I saw a medical program on television that showed a hip joint replacement. At one point, the doctor was using a hammer and chisel and pounding on the bone. Doesn’t this cause serious injury?

Doctors who work on bones are called orthopedic surgeons. It is surprising what they must do in some operations. Because bone is such a strong substance, some procedures do call for hammers, drills, and even saws.

During a joint replacement, the doctor must remove some bone in order to make room for the implant. They apply a steady rhythm when striking blows to the bone. The muscles and surrounding soft tissue absorb some of the impact.

Studies on bone from cadavers (humans preserved after death for study) provide information on how much force or stress the bone can handle. Sometimes, the bone does break, especially in the aging adult with osteoporosis.