TOTAL HIP-ARTHROPLASTY

Total hip arthroplasty, or surgical replacement of the hip joint with an artificial prosthesis, is a reconstructive procedure that has impro ved the management of those diseases of the hip joint that have respon ded poorly to conventional medical therapy. In this review we briefly summarize the evolution of total hip arthroplasty, the design and deve lopment of prosthetic hip components, and the current clinical indicat ions for this procedure. The possible complications of total hip arthr oplasty, its clinical performance over time, and future directions in hip replacement surgery are also discussed.