Hip surgery and hip replacement
The body’s largest ball and socket joint is designed to handle repetitive motion and large stresses. A thin tissue called synovial membrane surrounds the hip joint. In a healthy hip, this membrane makes a small amount of fluid that lubricates the cartilage and eliminates almost all friction during hip movement. Bands of tissue called ligaments (the hip capsule) connect the ball to the socket and provide stability to the joint. However, the hip joint is vulnerable to injury over time and is the most common joint replaced in the body. Children and young adults can have developmental hip dysplasia that can lead to early injuries and arthritis.
The video below can walk you through some of the common hip injuries to help you understand conditions and their treatments.
