BIRMINGHAM HIP Resurfacing

What is the hip joint and what does it do?

Your hip is a ball-and-socket joint that allows you to move and balance. It’s made of bones, cartilage, ligaments and muscles. The two bones that are a part of the hip joint are the femur (thighbone) and the pelvis. The femur ends in a round ball, which fits snugly into the pelvic socket (called the acetabulum).

This snug fit is cushioned by a smooth cartilage lining. A tough matrix of ligaments connects the femur and pelvis keeping the hip joint in place and functional. Muscles attach to the hip joint, providing the ability to move the legs.

Common causes of hip pain and hip replacement

Arthritis is the leading cause of hip pain. It is a progressive disease that wears away the smooth cartilage lining of the hip’s ball-and-socket joint. As the cartilage gets damaged and wears, the pain from the rubbing of the two sides of the hip joint increases. This pain eventually increases until surgical intervention is necessary.

Total hip replacement and hip resurfacing are potential treatments for hip pain from arthritis.

Order the Patient Guide – Your Free Information Kit from
Smith & Nephew
Order more information about hip resurfacing, a revolutionary solution to hip pain for some patients. Find out more about the benefits of the BIRMINGHAM HIP Resurfacing System with this free guide and determine if hip resurfacing might be an option for you.