“If you have bone-on-bone arthritis, and you can’t walk to get your mail, a hip replacement can be life-changing,” says James C. Johnston, M.D., a board-certified orthopaedic surgeon who specializes in hip and knee replacement at GBMC Health Partners - Orthopaedics. But the type of hip replacement a patient might need can vary — and what works for a friend or neighbor might not work for you.