Why are hip replacements needed?
Hip replacement is one of the most common implant surgeries. The reasons hip replacement are needed are usually age related. Arthritis is a condition usually associated with old age in which the cartilage at joints wears away, meaning the bones at joints can rub against each other, causing pain and decreased mobility. Also, as people get older, their bones get more brittle, and they can experience extensive loss of bone mass, leaving them with an increased risk of a hip fracture. This is particularly true for female patients. The reasons can also be congenital – such as in congenital hip dysplasia, in which abnormal hip development in the uterus leads to an infant’s hips being prone to dislocation and often the need for a hip replacement at a relatively young age.
