All About the Hip

What is the hip joint and how does it work?

The hip joint connects the pelvis and the leg. It's a ball-and-socket joint that has a tremendous amount of mobility.

What kinds of conditions can affect the hip joint?

Common conditions involving the hip joint are:

• Arthritis
• Tendinitis
• Bursitis
• Fractures

How do people typically injure a hip?

Most hip injuries occur in older adults who have some underlying osteoporosis, a disease in which bones become more fragile and more likely to break. These patients most commonly develop hip fractures as the result of a fall. Athletes such as football players also have hip injuries, but these are less common.

How are hip fractures treated?

A broken hip can be treated by:

• Hip pinning, where the bones are repaired
• Hip replacement
• Hip resurfacing for younger arthritis patients, typically males
• Hip arthroscopy (rarely)