Hip Replacement Surgery
Hip replacement surgery is a treatment for pain and disability in the hip. Northwestern Medicine specialists use the latest technology to treat many types of hip conditions, including those related to:
- Arthritis (osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis)
- Bursitis
- Dislocation
- Hip pain
- Fractures
Hip replacement is a surgical procedure in which your hip joint is replaced with a prosthetic implant. Your surgeon will discuss joint replacement options and help identify which approach is best for you.
A traditional hip replacement involves an incision several inches long over the hip joint. A newer approach that uses one or two smaller incisions to perform the procedure is called minimally invasive hip replacement. However, the minimally invasive procedure is not suited for all candidates for hip replacement.
Types of hip replacement surgery
Your physician will determine the best procedure for you, based on your individual situation.
Posterior
- The diseased head (ball) of your hip joint is removed
- A metal stem is placed into your thighbone (femur)
- A metal or ceramic ball is then placed on the metal stem in your thighbone, forming the first half of the new hip joint
- The pelvis section is reshaped and lined with a metal or ceramic cup, creating a new socket to house the ball
- The socket may receive a plastic liner to keep the new joint moving smoothly
- The ball is slipped into the socket to restore movement and create the new joint
Anterior
In an anterior hip approach, surgeons access your hip joint from the front of the hip, rather than from the side or back of the hip. This allows surgeons to replace your hip with less cutting of the muscles or tendons from the bone. Since an anterior hip replacement involves less cutting and trauma to your body, you may experience less pain and have a faster recovery than with traditional hip replacement surgery.
Mako™ Robotic-Arm Assisted Surgery
Mako robotic-arm assisted technology can be used for Total Hip Replacement, which is a procedure designed for patients who suffer from non-inflammatory or inflammatory degenerative joint disease of the hip. This technology provides your surgeon with a patient-specific 3D model to pre-plan your hip replacement. Learn more about Mako technology and how it works.
Locations Performing this Treatment
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Center for Comprehensive Orthopaedic and Spine Care at Northwestern Memorial Hospital
259 E. Erie St.Thirteenth FloorChicago, IL 60611place -
Northwestern Medicine Central DuPage Hospital
25 N. Winfield RoadWinfield, IL 60190place -
Northwestern Medicine Delnor Hospital
300 Randall RoadGeneva, IL 60134place -
Northwestern Medicine Lake Forest Hospital
1000 N. Westmoreland RoadLake Forest, IL 60045place -
Northwestern Medicine Orthopaedics Grayslake Outpatient Center
1475 E. Belvidere RoadPavilion C, Suite 185Grayslake, IL 60030placePhone 847.535.8500 -
Northwestern Medicine Orthopaedics Glenview Outpatient Center
2701 Patriot Blvd.Glenview, IL 60026placePhone 847.535.8500 -
Northwestern Medicine Kishwaukee Hospital
1 Kish Hospital DriveDeKalb, IL 60115placePhone 815.756.1521 -
Northwestern Medicine Kishwaukee Hospital Joint Center
1 Kish Hospital DriveDeKalb, IL 60115placePhone 815.766.7371 -
Northwestern Medicine Valley West Hospital
1302 N. Main St.Sandwich, IL 60548placePhone 815.786.8484 -
Northwestern Medicine Huntley Hospital Hip and Knee Replacement Center
10400 Haligus RoadHuntley, IL 60142placePhone 224.654.0000 -
Northwestern Medicine Orthopaedics Crystal Lake
420 N. IL Route 31Crystal Lake, IL 60012placePhone 815.356.5200 -
Northwestern Medicine Orthopaedics Huntley
10370 Haligus RoadSuite 201Huntley, IL 60142placePhone 815.356.5200 -
Northwestern Medicine Grayslake Outpatient Center
1475 E. Belvidere RoadGrayslake, IL 60030place -
Northwestern Memorial Hospital
251 East Huron StreetChicago, Illinois 60611place
Meet the Teams

Related Resources
- Central DuPage Hospital and Delnor Hospital Hip Replacement Guide
- Kishwaukee Hospital and Valley West Hospital Hip Replacement Guide
Online resources
The content provided here is for informational purposes only, and was not designed to diagnose or treat a health problem or disease, or replace the professional medical advice you receive from your physician. Please consult your physician with any questions or concerns you may have regarding your condition.
- American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons
- American Association of Hip and Knee Surgeons
- American College of Rheumatology
- Arthritis Foundation
- National Institute of Child Health and Human Development
- National Institutes of Health (NIH)
- National Library of Medicine
- The American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine