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Questions On The Hip Joint

Better Essays

Matthew Potzler
Term Paper
MSE 561

Hip Prostheses
The hip joint is used in everyday life. The most common need for replacement comes from this wear and tear of the joint resulting in osteoarthritis, necessitating a total hip replacement. Part of this replacement involves selecting an implant of proper material and size to fit the patient, with more and more implants heading toward metal on metal load bearing surfaces to increase life of the implant. The implant lasts an average of 15 years before failure. Some of this failure results from a fracture of the implant, while in 2% of cases a revision is required due to infection. The Medicare compensation for a total hip arthroscopy is $43,000, while an infection more than doubles that cost. Replacement of the hip joint results in higher quality of life for the patient and in some populations (Norway) even decrease long-term mortality rates. As the population grows older, the need for this procedure will increase and the burden to the healthcare system will exceed $15 billion per year.
The hip joint is one of the most important joints in the human body. The hip joint is an acetabulofemoral joint or ball and socket joint (Figure 1). The joint is formed between the femoral head and the acetabular cup of the hip, or coxa. The joint is a synovial joint, where the synovial membrane sits between the ball and socket. Figure 1. The femoral head (ball) fits into the acetabular (socket) forming the hip joint allowing for a high degree

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