Focus Area: Hip Replacement | Hip Arthroscopy | Stem Cell Therapy | Total & Partial Hip Arthroplasty | Joint Reconstruction | Guadalajara & Nuevo Vallarta, Mexico

What Is Hip Replacement?

Hip replacement (hip arthroplasty) is a surgical procedure that replaces a damaged or worn hip joint with an artificial implant, relieving pain and restoring mobility when the joint's cartilage has deteriorated beyond what conservative treatment can manage. At SportMed, the procedure may involve replacing the entire joint (total hip replacement) or only the damaged surface (partial replacement, or hemiarthroplasty), depending on the extent of joint damage. The surgery uses current implant technology and techniques aimed at restoring natural movement and minimizing recovery time.

Other Types of Hip Surgery

Hip replacement isn't always the first or only surgical option. Depending on your diagnosis, age, and the extent of joint damage, SportMed's orthopedic team may recommend a different procedure:

• Hip arthroscopy: a minimally invasive procedure using a small camera and instruments through tiny incisions to repair labral tears, remove impingement (femoroacetabular impingement), or address early cartilage damage, typically with a faster recovery than open surgery.
• Hip resurfacing: an alternative to total replacement for some younger, more active patients, in which the femoral head is capped rather than removed, preserving more of the patient's original bone.
• Periacetabular osteotomy: a joint-preserving procedure that repositions the hip socket to improve coverage of the femoral head, most often used for hip dysplasia in younger patients before arthritis has set in.
• Partial replacement (hemiarthroplasty): replacing only the femoral head rather than the entire joint, sometimes used for certain hip fractures.
• Revision hip surgery: replacing or repairing a previous hip implant that has worn out or become loose over time.

Your specialist will walk you through which of these options, if any, apply to your specific diagnosis before recommending a full hip replacement.

Stem Cell Therapy and Delaying Surgery

For patients in the earlier stages of hip osteoarthritis or cartilage wear, stem cell therapy is a regenerative option worth discussing before jumping straight to surgery. The procedure uses umbilical cord-derived mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), concentrated and injected directly into the hip joint, where they're thought to help calm inflammation and support the joint's own tissue-repair processes.

Stem cell therapy is not a replacement for hip surgery once joint damage is advanced or bone-on-bone arthritis has set in, those cases still benefit most from replacement or another structural procedure. But for the right candidate, particularly someone with early-to-moderate arthritis who wants to stay active without committing to surgery right away, stem cell therapy, often combined with PRP (platelet-rich plasma) and a physiotherapy program, can meaningfully reduce pain and improve function. In many cases, this can push back the need for hip replacement by a significant stretch of time, sometimes years, giving patients more time on their own joint before considering an implant. Your SportMed specialist will review your imaging and symptoms to determine whether stem cell therapy is a reasonable option for you, or whether your joint damage means surgery is the more appropriate next step.

Are You a Candidate for Hip Replacement?

• Persistent hip pain that limits walking, stair climbing, or daily activities despite medication and physical therapy
• Advanced osteoarthritis or rheumatoid arthritis affecting the hip joint, confirmed by imaging
• Hip stiffness that reduces range of motion and interferes with sleep or rest
• Pain that has not responded to conservative treatments such as physiotherapy, anti-inflammatory medication, injections, or stem cell therapy
• Reduced quality of life due to chronic hip pain despite non-surgical management

Why Choose SportMed for Hip Replacement

• FIFA & FIMS certified care: surgical protocols follow internationally recognized standards for joint reconstruction.
• Led by Dr. Francisco Arroyo: 25+ years of experience in orthopedic surgery and joint replacement.
• A full spectrum of options: from stem cell therapy and hip arthroscopy to partial and total hip replacement, treatment is matched to your stage of joint damage rather than defaulting to the most invasive option.
• Comprehensive perioperative planning: imaging, implant selection, and surgical approach tailored to your anatomy and activity goals.
• Coordinated post-surgical rehabilitation: physiotherapy and functional nutrition support recovery from day one.
• Two convenient locations: Guadalajara and Nuevo Vallarta, with bilingual support for international patients.

Your Treatment Journey

1. Initial Evaluation: comprehensive assessment of hip pain, mobility, and imaging studies to confirm the degree of joint damage.
2. Treatment Planning: your specialist discusses whether stem cell therapy, hip arthroscopy, another joint-preserving procedure, or hip replacement best matches your diagnosis and goals.
3. Pre-Surgical Preparation: for patients proceeding with surgery, medical clearance and guidance to optimize your health beforehand.
4. Procedure: whether a regenerative injection, arthroscopic repair, or hip replacement, the damaged joint is treated using techniques suited to your diagnosis and goals.
5. Early Recovery: for surgical patients, supervised mobilization typically begins within a day of surgery to support healing and prevent stiffness.
6. Progressive Rehabilitation: a structured physiotherapy program rebuilds strength, stability, and range of motion over the following weeks and months.

What Results Can You Expect?

Outcomes depend on which treatment path you follow. Stem cell therapy typically produces gradual improvement over several weeks to a few months, with many appropriate candidates experiencing reduced pain for months to a few years, sometimes delaying the need for surgery. Hip arthroscopy patients often return to light activity within a few weeks. Most hip replacement patients experience significant pain relief and improved mobility, with many walking with assistance within a day or two of surgery; initial recovery milestones are often reached within six to twelve weeks, while full recovery and return to lower-impact activities can extend to around six months, depending on overall health, adherence to rehabilitation, and the complexity of the procedure.

Real Patients, Real Recoveries

Don't just take our word for it, hear directly from patients we've helped get back to the activities they love, in the Patient Stories section of our homepage.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can stem cell therapy help me avoid or delay hip replacement?

For patients with early-to-moderate hip arthritis, stem cell therapy can reduce pain and improve function enough to meaningfully delay, and in some cases avoid, hip replacement. It isn't appropriate once joint damage is advanced or bone-on-bone arthritis has developed, so your specialist will review your imaging to see if you're a good candidate.

What other types of hip surgery are available besides total replacement?

Depending on your diagnosis, options can include hip arthroscopy for labral tears or impingement, hip resurfacing, periacetabular osteotomy for hip dysplasia, partial replacement (hemiarthroplasty), and revision surgery for a previous implant. Your surgeon will determine which, if any, apply before recommending a full hip replacement.

When can I walk again after hip replacement?

Most patients begin supervised walking with assistance within a day or two after surgery, with mobility improving steadily over the following weeks as strength and confidence build through guided physiotherapy.

Can international patients travel to SportMed for hip replacement?

Yes. SportMed's Guadalajara and Nuevo Vallarta centers regularly support patients traveling from abroad, with bilingual staff helping coordinate evaluation, surgery timing, and rehabilitation planning around your travel schedule.