Hip and Knee Arthroplasty

The incidence of hip and knee replacement surgery is increasing rapidly as a consequence of our ageing and increasingly obese society. In the UK, 50 000 hip replacements are being performed each year, and this is expected to treble by 2030. The aim of this article is to discuss the principles behind hip and knee arthroplasty, the types of prostheses, the surgeon's aims and the potential complications that may be encountered.