Hip Hemiarthroplasty (Partial Hip Replacement)

Indications

Hip hemiarthroplasty is a surgery used to treat a broken hip, specifically when the neck of the thigh bone (femur) is fractured and the bone pieces are not aligned properly (displaced). Femoral neck fractures most commonly occur in the elderly as a result of a fall onto the hip from ground level (low energy). In a hip hemiarthroplasty (partial hip replacement), the damaged femoral head (the ball part of the hip joint) is removed and replaced with a metal implant (femoral prosthesis). Hemiarthroplasty is an effective treatment for many patients who have suffered a femoral neck fracture. It is recommended over hip pinning in cases where the risk of avascular necrosis and/or fracture nonunion is high. However, younger more active patients and individuals with pre-existing hip arthritis may benefit from a total hip replacement. 

Procedure

Overview

A Partial hip replacement, or hemiarthroplasty, involves removing the femoral head and replacing it with an artificial version consisting of a metal femoral head and metal stem (Figure 1). In contrast with a total hip replacement, the acetabular (socket) side of the hip joint is not replaced. The size of the patient’s femoral head is measured after it has been removed, and a prosthetic head of equivalent size is used to replace it. The prosthetic femoral neck length can also be adjusted to approximate the length of the existing femoral neck. A hemiarthroplasty can be performed using different combinations of surgical approaches, fixation techniques, and with different types of prosthetics. These variations are outlined below.

Figure 1: X-ray of a partial hip replacement (hemiarthroplasty)

Type of Prosthetic Implant

There are two types of devices that can be used in the hip hemiarthroplasty, each with their own set of advantages and disadvantages.

• Unipolar Hemiarthroplasty – This device is composed of a metal femoral head and stem that are fixed to each other as a single prosthesis. Movement of the hip joint takes place between the hip joint socket (acetabulum) and the metal femoral head only. This type of implant can be quite effective, but may lead to more wear on the hip socket (arthritis) over time.

• Bipolar hemiarthroplasty – In this type of prosthesis, the metal femoral head swivels around the metal stem component. This means that hip movement occurs both between the acetabulum and metal femoral head, as well as between the metal femoral head and metal stem. The bipolar prosthesis is thought to reduce short-term wear on the acetabulum, but it is still unclear if this confers significant long-term benefit. A bipolar hemiarthroplasty also has the advantage of potentially being easier to convert to a total hip replacement at a later date if needed. This is because the swiveling head can be removed and the femoral stem can be used as part of the total hip replacement.

Fixation of the Hemiarthroplasty

The two types of fixation methods used in hip hemiarthroplasty that help the prosthesis adhere to the existing bone are cemented and uncemented. The cemented hemiarthroplasty use a bone cement that adheres the stem of the prothesis to the bone, while the uncemented hemiarthroplasty has a stem with a textured surface that promotes bone growth and adherence of the hardware to the bone overtime. The type of fixation to be used depends on the patient’s age and level of activity, as well as the expertise of the surgeon performing the procedure.

• Cemented Hemiarthroplasty –The advantages of using cement include lower rates of prosthetic loosening, immediate fixation of the prosthesis to the bone, and increased post-surgical mobility. In rare instances, the prosthesis may give off cement particles that travel through the body, which can cause adverse effects in the heart and lungs. Cemented fixation is preferred in elderly and less active individuals.

• Uncemented Hemiarthroplasty – Uncemented fixation does not provide immediate fixation of the prosthetic inside the femoral shaft because new bone growth takes time. Therefore, an uncemented hemiarthroplasty may require patients to limit putting weight on the hip in the weeks after surgery. The advantages of this type of fixation include eliminating the risk of cement breakdown and possible improved long-term adhesion of the prothesis to the bone. Uncemented fixation is preferred in younger and more active individuals.

Surgical Approaches

A hemiarthroplasty of the hip can be performed using a few different surgical approaches to gain access tot he hip joint, each with their own risks and benefits. The approach that is used depends on the expertise of the surgeon, as well as what will best suit the individual undergoing surgery. In general, different surgical approaches require disruption of different muscles, tendons, and anatomical structures within the body. Although these structures heal with time, they may never fully return to their original condition. The three main approaches to a hip hemiarthroplasty are as follows:

• Posterior Approach – The posterior approach is the most common approach used for hip hemiarthroplasty. This technique is advantageous because no muscles are cut or damaged during the procedure. Previously, the rate of hip dislocation following a hemiarthroplasty using the posterior approach was higher than with other approaches. However, the technique has been modified in recent years to drastically reduce this risk.

• Anterolateral Approach – Performing a hemiarthroplasty from the anterolateral approach requires cutting through muscles on the side of the hip joint, including the gluteus medius and gluteus maximus, in order to get to the hip joint. These muscles are repaired after the prothesis is placed and rehabilitated during the post-op recover, but may never fully regain their original strength and form.

• Anterior Appraoch – The anterior approach does not require the cutting of muscles in order to access the joint. However, this approach is more difficult to take than the other two. For this reason, the anterior approach is not commonly used.

Recovery

An important part of recovery from a hemiarthroplasty is early mobilization using an assistive device such as a cane or walker. Individuals who undergo hip hemiarthroplasty are encouraged to begin mobilizing almost immediately after surgery, often times sooner than with a total hip replacement. During the recovery period, increasing increments of body weight will be placed on the hip until walking without an assistive device is achieved. Any post-surgical pain can be managed with oral and topical pain medications. However, NSAIDs are generally not recommended for elderly individuals because of their potential to cause catastrophic gastrointestinal bleeding.

A hemiarthroplasty, like most other surgeries, increases the risk of developing a blood clot (deep vein thrombosis). To prevent this, blood thinners such as aspirin and the use of compression stockings to help return blood flow to the heart are recommended. Other key components of recovery include physical therapy and in-home exercises. Specific exercises designed to promote strength and stability of the hip, when performed regularly after a hip hemiarthroplasty, will help achieve the maximum possible activity level after surgery.

Complications

Potential complications of a hemiarthroplasty of the hip include:

– Hip dislocation
– Peri-prosthetic hip fracture (fracture of the hip bones around the location of the prosthetic)
– Post-surgical infection
– Loosening of the prosthesis
– Deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism

Edited by Stephen Pinney MD, August 4th 2025