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Hip
Resurfacing Terms Updated 9/25/08
Click on
Term to read definition |
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Acetabulum:
The cup of the hip in which the ball, or head of the
femur, rotates when the hip is in motion. During
hip replacement surgery, the acetabulum is reamed out
and a metal cup is implanted to replace diseased bone.
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Arthoplasty:
The surgical replacement or repair of a damaged joint.
Hip arthroplasty is also known as hip replacement
surgery. |
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ASR:
The DePuy ASR XL System is a large diameter, high
performance metal-on-metal hip resurfacing device.
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AVN
Avascular Necrosis of the femoral head:
AVN is
a one time event in which a strikingly similar sector of necrosis occurs in most
femoral heads ( anteo supero lateral
part) due to blockage of presumably the same vessel. This sets
off a series of changes which are is marked by sectoral collapse.
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BHR Birmingham Hip Resurfacing:
Birmingham Hip
Resurfacing device by Smith & Nephew
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Bone Spurs:
Abnormal projections of bone,
also known as osteophytes. Bone spurs are commonly seen
in patients with arthritis.
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Bovie, Bovie Pencil:
A device used to electrically
cauterize, or burn and seal the ends of blood vessels
that are bleeding into the surgical field.
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Capsule:
The strong, fibrous, flexible sac
that surrounds the hip joint and contains the synovial
membrane. The synovial membrane produces sinovial
fluid, a liquid that lubricates the joint.
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Cartilage:
A smooth material that covers
bone ends at a joint to cushion the bone and allow the
joint to move easily without pain. |
External
Rotator Muscles :
A series of muscles connected to
the back of the femur near the greater trochanter that
are responsible for rotating the leg outward away from
the midline of the body. |
Femur:
The thigh bone or upper leg bone. |
Femoral Head:
The top of the femur bone, also
known as the ball of the hip. This rotates inside the
acetabulum to allow the hip to move. |
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Gluteus Maximus:
A large muscle that covers the
rear hip, also sometimes known as the butt muscle.
This is a superficial muscle that is cut through and
pulled back to access the bones of the hip during hip
replacement surgery.
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Gluteus Medius:
A broad Muscle located near the gluteus maximus. About
1/3 of this muscle lies under the gluteus maximus. The
lower edge of the medius is near the piriformis muscle.
Both the gluteus medius and the piriformis are attached
to the greater trochanter and this flap of muscles must
be pulled back during hip replacement surgery in order
to access the bones of the hip. |
Gluteus Minimus:
A small muscle that occurs just below portions of the
gluteus maximus. The gluteus minimus is attached to the
greater trochanter and is part of the flap of muscles
that must be pulled back during hip replacement surgery
in order to access the bones of the hip. |
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Greater Trochanter:
A large projection on the end of the femur near the
hip. Numerous muscles attach to the femur at this
location.
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Hemi-Arthroplasty
System or Hemi-Hip
Resurfacing:
A Hemi-Hip Resurfacing is not used often today.
There were many revisions required because only the
femur was capped. This led to the metal cap of the femur
rubbing on the acetabulum of the hip. There was not a
cup placed in the acetabulum. Hemi-resurfacing was used
for younger adult patients with early osteonecrosis of
the femoral head, preserving the acetabulum, proximal
femoral bone, and medullary canal.
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Intramedullary Canal or Medullary Canal:
The canal that runs up the center of the femur. The
prosthetic stem is placed in this canal as part of hip
replacement surgery. |
Lap Sponge:
A sterile gauze pad used to absorb blood and fluids or
clean surgical areas during surgery. |
OA - Osteoarthritis:
The most common type of arthritis. It affects many
joints in the body, including the hip. It is a chronic
disease and is characterized by destruction of
cartilage, overgrowth of bone, bone spur formation and
impaired function. This type of arthritis occurs when
bone rubs against bone. Many people develop
osteoarthritis as they age. |
Osteophytes:
Abnormal projections of bone, also known as bone spurs.
Osteophytes are commonly seen in patients with
arthritis. |
Osteotome:
A chisel-like surgical instrument used to remove
osteophytes or bone spurs during hip surgery. |
Plastic Liner:
This goes inside the metal acetabular cup and cushions
the metal ball of the total hip prosthetic. The liner serves
much the same function as cartilage does in a healthy
hip - it prevents the metal parts of the prosthetic from
rubbing against each other. |
Piriformis Tendon:
The tendon that connects the piriformis muscle to the
head of the femur. |
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Piriformis Muscle:
The piriformis muscle travels behind the hip joint,
running horizontally from the lower spine to the top of
the femur. The piriformis runs over the sciatic nerve
and it aids in external rotation, or turning out, of the
hip joint.
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Prosthesis (plural, Prostheses):
An artificial body part designed to supplement or
replace natural parts. In hip replacement surgery, the
prosthetic components replace the end of the femur, the
ball of the hip (head of the femur) and the cup of the
hip, or acetabulum. |
Range of Motion ROM:
The acceptable amount of movement a joint should be able
to perform. Range of motion tests are performed in all
joint replacement surgeries to ensure that the
prosthetic joints work appropriately. |
Rasp:
A surgical tool used to remove small amounts of bone by
shaving or sanding the bone down. Rasps are used to
size the femur to accept the stem prosthetic in hip
replacement surgery. |
Rongeur:
A surgical instrument used to remove osteophytes, or
bone spurs, during hip replacement surgery. |
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Sciatic Nerve:
The largest single nerve in the human body. The sciatic
connects to nearly all of the skin of the leg, the
muscles of the back of the thigh, the leg and the foot.
It passes out of the pelvis below the Piriformis muscle.
It descends the back of the thigh to about its lower
third, where it divides into two large branches.
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Stem:
The metal prosthetic piece that goes in the femur during
a hip replacement surgery. |
Subcutaneous:
Literally under the skin. In surgeries, this usually
refers to this usually refers to the layer of fat that
exists just beneath the skin. This layer is often
sutured together separately from the skin to make the
surgical closure more secure. |
Template:
A plastic guide used to help surgeons determine the
correct size of replacement prosthetics to use for a
patient. The surgeon uses the plastic template to
measure the size of the acetabulum and the canal in the
femur by holding it up against an enlarged x-ray. |
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Tensor Fascia Lata:
Aids in muscle movements and can also provide an
attachment site for muscles and act as a cushioning
layer between them. The tensor fascia lata runs from
the hip down the thigh and provides stability for the
leg as well as medial rotation, or rotation in toward
the other leg.
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Total Hip Replacement THR:
Also known as total hip arthoplasty. In this procedure
a portion of the femoral neck and the entire femoral
head are removed and replaced by a prosthesis. The
acetabulum (socket) is prepared with reamers and a metal
prosthetic cup is press fit in place. The metal ball on
the femoral prosthesis articulates (rubs against) an
acetabular liner that matches the size of the femoral
head. Traditional head sizes for total hip replacement
are 28-32 mm.
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Total Hip Resurfacing:
In this procedure the head of the femur is retained and
prepared with specialized reamers. The prepared femora
lhead has a metal resurfacing component cemented in
position. The
acetabulum has a metal prosthetic cup inserted. This
type of surgery preserves more bone than a traditional
total hip replacement does. Femoral head sizes for
surface replacement often range from 44-54 mm
(substantially larger than traditional total hip
replacements).
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