What To Expect from a Ceramic Hip Replacement

Hip replacement surgery replaces part of the hip joint called the ball-and-socket with artificial materials. Metal, plastic, and ceramic can all be used to replace the hip joint.

Ceramic is a high-strength, scratch-resistant, low-friction material that helps minimize the wear and tear often reported with metal.

Read on to learn what to expect from a ceramic hip replacement surgery, including when a doctor might recommend using ceramic instead of other materials.

There are no age or weight restrictions for total hip replacements. Most people who’ve had hip replacement surgery are between 50 and 80 years of age.

Several reasons a doctor may recommend hip replacement surgery include:

If you’re overweight, a doctor may ask you to lose weight before surgery to minimize stress on your new hip and help decrease the risks of surgery. If you smoke, you may be asked to quit before the surgery.

A doctor may recommend ceramic hip replacement for:

Surgeons began using ceramics for hip replacement surgery due to the problems of friction and wear often reported with metal or metal and plastic.

Artificial hips were once typically made of a metal ball and a polyethylene (plastic) socket. Over time, hard metal can wear away soft plastic. But ceramic is very hard and provides more longevity for an artificial hip.

Ceramic may be used for both the ball and the lining of the socket (ceramic on ceramic) or just the ball. Other parts may be made of either metal or plastic, ceramic on metal, or ceramic on plastic (polyethylene).

Research shows that ceramic-on-ceramic bearings decrease wear, bone, and muscle loss, and lower the risk of dislocation. The human body also tolerates ceramic well, with low reactivity and no toxicity. Research shows that ceramic hip replacements may be preferable to metal or plastics, as ceramic is more durable and may last longer.

There are some limitations for ceramic materials, including a risk of fracture during implant. Improvements in modern materials have made fractures less of a concern today. But it is still difficult to revise a fractured ceramic implant, as there may be many tiny fragments.

A small percent of people who get a ceramic-on-ceramic hip replacement report squeaking sounds similar in sound to the creaking of a door hinge coming from their hip.

Experts do not universally agree as to the best material for hip replacement. A surgeon will assess the advantages and disadvantages of each material for your case before making a decision.

A doctor may recommend a few different surgeons. Before choosing, interview a few different potential candidates.

First, make sure the surgeon is board certified. Then, consider asking the surgeon or researching the following on review sites:

Here are some common steps you’ll need to take as you prepare for a ceramic hip replacement:

Hip surgery is typically done in an operating room at the hospital and takes from 1 to 3 hours.

Once you’re checked in at the hospital, a nurse will take you into a room to prep for surgery, where you’ll put on a hospital gown.

The nurse will then start an IV in your hand, wrist, or arm for you to receive fluids and medications during the surgery.

Then, an orthopedic surgeon will do the following:

Recovery usually takes 3 to 6 weeks before you can get around and perform light daily tasks on your own.

Your surgeon may schedule a follow-up appointment 2 to 3 months after surgery to make sure your hip is healing properly. Full recovery may take a year or more.

Here’s a general overview of what may happen in the days and weeks after surgery:

Like other surgeries, ceramic hip surgery has some risks, including:

After surgery, it’s also possible to experience:

On average, hip replacements last 20 to 25 years before repair or replacement.

In one study, only 4.4 percent of people who received a hip replacement required revision surgery in the first 10 years after surgery. About 15 percent required revision by the 20-year mark.

Limited data is available regarding how long ceramic-on-ceramic hip replacements last, but ceramic implants are believed to have a longer durability than other implant materials because of their low wear rate.