Advances in hip replacement

Total hip replacement is a frequently performed and highly successful surgical intervention. It is undertaken to relieve pain and improve function in individuals with advanced arthritis of the hip joint. Symptomatic osteoarthritis is the most common indication for surgery. In this paper, we focus on how patient factors should inform the surgical decision-making process. Significant demands are placed upon modern implants, as patients expect to remain more active for longer. We discuss the advances made in implant performance, and the developments in peri-operative practice that have reduced complications. Assessment of surgery outcomes should include patient-reported outcome measures and implant survival rates, based on data from joint replacement registries. The high-profile failure of some widely used metal-on-metal prostheses has demonstrated the shortcomings of the existing regulatory framework. We consider how proposed changes to the regulatory framework may influence safety