The thrust plate prosthesis is a new type of hip prosthesis which maintains the physiological loading pattern of the bone. Experimental stress analysis of the proximal femur led to the development of this device, and clinical results over a period of more than 12 years confirm the sound biomechanical concept on which it is based. Conventional prostheses of the stem type are still prone to loosening and subsequent revision operations which are surgically particularly demanding. The thrust plate prosthesis, in contrast, allows a revision procedure, if at all necessary, to be performed with the same ease as a primary implantation. This, together with the fact that bone stock is preserved, makes it especially attractive for use in physiologically active and young patients.