Osteoarthritis: Explained With Pictures

• a plastic cup that replaces your acetabulum (hip socket)
• a metal ball that replaces the femoral head
• a metal stem that is attached to the shaft of the femur

There are also ceramic hip replacements and other alternatives to the total hip replacement -- for example, the Birmingham Hip Resurfacing System.

• Total Hip Replacement - What You Need to Know

_Sources:

_{Osteoarthritis Handout on Health. NIAMS. 7/7/07.
http://awww.niams.hin.gov/hi/topics/arthritis/oahandout.htm}

_{Total Hip Replacement. American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. August 2007.
http://orthoinfo.aaos.org/topic.cfm?topic=A00377}

_{Osteoarthritis of the Knee. JAMA. February 26, 2003 - Vol. 289. No.8. A Patient's Guide to Osteoarthritis of the Knee. Center for Orthopaedics and Hip and Knee Surgery. 7/29/2007.
http://www.eorthopod.com/public/patient_education/6516/osteoarthritis_of_the_knee.html}

• Osteoarthritis Is Most Common in Adults Over 65
• Cartilage Damage From Knee Osteoarthritis
• Hip Osteoarthritis Caused by Joint Deterioration
• Three Common Sites of Hand Osteoarthritis
• Age Is Major Risk Factor for Neck Osteoarthritis
• What's the Difference Between Osteoarthritis and Rheumatoid Arthritis?
• Knee Replacement Is Last-Resort Treatment Option
• Hip Replacement Restores Function and Mobility