Hip Anatomy

Your hip is a ball-and-socket joint between the end of the thigh bone (femoral head) and the pelvic socket (acetabulum).  The femoral head and acetabulum are normally covered by a smooth layer of articular cartilage. This allows the ball to glide easily inside the socket. The joint is surrounded by a fibrous capsule that has thickened areas or ligaments embedded within it which help give the joint extra stability.  Strong muscles such as the iliopsoas, gluteus medius and rectus femoris surround the joint and control its motion.

Total Hip Replacement

Frequently, the articular cartilage of the hip may become damaged due to osteoarthritis, avascular necrosis or trauma.  When this occurs, the joint surfaces becomes irregular and misshaped. As roughened surfaces of worn cartilage and bone rub together, the patient experiences pain, and movement becomes limited.  Over time, the condition worsens.

Hip replacement surgery corrects this problem by replacing the femoral head and acetabulum with artificial components.  The surfaces of the artificial joint are smooth, allowing them to glide over one another so that movement is pain free.  In recent years, the prosthetic components have evolved significantly, resulting in decreased frequency of prosthetic complications.  The surgeons of Boca Raton Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine use the most advanced hip implants including metal-on-metal bearing surfaces, oversized femoral heads and lateral cortex loading femoral components with excellent surgical results and high levels of patient satisfaction.

Intertrochanteric Hip Fracture

Intertrochanteric fractures occur between the greater and lesser trochanters of the femur.  This region has an excellent blood supply and therefore a high rate of healing.  Surgery is typically performed to align the hip correctly and stabilize it so that the patient can move and walk with less pain while the fracture is healing.  Our surgeons use the newer technique of intramedullary fixation that allows the fracture to be fixed through 3 small (1/2-1 inch) incisions.  Surgery is performed under live X-ray guidance and does not require direct exposure of the fracture.  This results in less blood loss and decreased postoperative pain.

Femoral Neck Fracture

Femoral neck fractures occur close to the femoral head where blood supply to bone is tenuous.  As a result, these fractures have a lower rate of healing.  When these fractures are not displaced, they may be secured in place with 3 screws inserted surgically through a 1 inch incision.  When these fractures are displaced, hemiarthroplasty, or partial hip replacement is typically performed.  In this procedure, the femoral head is replaced with a metal prosthesis but, unlike total hip replacement, the acetabulum is not replaced.  Typically the patient is permitted to weight bear immediately on the affected hip.