Hip Injury & Care

The Hip

The "hip" is a ball-and-socket joint. It allows the upper leg to bend and rotate at the pelvis. An injury to the socket, or acetabulum, itself is not considered a "hip fracture." Management of fractures to the socket is a completely different consideration.

Common Injuries

Hip fractures most commonly occur from a fall or from a direct blow to the side of the hip. Some medical conditions such as osteoporosis, cancer, or stress injuries can weaken the bone and make the hip more susceptible to breaking. In severe cases, it is possible for the hip to break with the patient merely standing on the leg and twisting.

Seek treatment if you experience the following:

Pain over the outer upper thigh or in the groin
Significant discomfort with any attempt to flex or rotate the hip
Aching in the groin or thigh area for a period of time before the break
If affected leg appears shorter than non-affected leg

Content on this page was taken from: http://orthoinfo.aaos.org.

Further Resources

Hip Dislocation

Hip Bursitis

Osteoarthritis of the Hip

Osteoarthritis of the Knee

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