How to Choose a Hip Surgeon: 6 Factors That Matter Most

Choosing the right hip surgeon is the single biggest decision affecting your outcome. Learn what credentials, volume, and questions matter most when selecting an orthopedic hip specialist.

Board Certification

Your surgeon must be board-certified by the American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery (ABOS). This confirms they completed a 5-year orthopedic surgery residency and passed rigorous written and oral examinations. Verify for free at certificationmatters.org.

Be cautious of surgeons who are "board eligible" but not yet certified — this means they finished training but have not passed the exams.

Fellowship Training

• Adult reconstruction / joint replacement — 1-year fellowship focused on hip and knee replacement (ideal for hip replacement patients)
• Hip preservation / arthroscopy — fellowship focused on labral repair, FAI, and hip arthroscopy (ideal for younger patients with non-arthritic hip problems)

Fellowship adds 1-2 years of subspecialty training beyond the 5-year residency. Surgeons with fellowship training have focused expertise in hip procedures.

Surgical Volume

Research consistently demonstrates that high-volume hip surgeons have fewer complications and better outcomes.

Ask directly: "How many hip replacements do you perform per year?" A confident surgeon will give a clear answer.

Surgical Approach Expertise

• Anterior approach — growing in popularity, faster early recovery
• Posterior approach — most established, excellent long-term track record
• Robotic-assisted — improved component positioning consistency

A surgeon who offers multiple approaches can recommend the best option for your specific anatomy rather than defaulting to the only technique they know.

Questions to Ask Before Scheduling

• How many hip replacements do you perform per year?
• What is your complication rate? Infection rate? Dislocation rate?
• Which surgical approach do you recommend for me, and why?
• Do you offer robotic-assisted surgery?

• Can this be done outpatient, or will I stay overnight?
• When can I drive? Walk without a cane? Return to exercise?
• What physical therapy protocol do you follow?

• Which hospitals or surgery centers do you operate at?
• What insurance plans do you accept?
• What will my estimated out-of-pocket cost be?

Warning Signs to Watch For

• Pushes surgery without trying conservative treatments first (unless your arthritis is clearly end-stage)
• Only offers one approach and cannot explain alternatives
• Avoids questions about volume, complication rates, or outcomes
• Recommends surgery based on telehealth only — you need a physical exam and imaging review
• Discourages second opinions — experienced surgeons welcome them
• Is not board certified or evades credentialing questions

Frequently Asked Questions

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