Hip Surgery

The hip is a ball-and-socket joint. The socket is formed by the acetabulum, which is part of the pelvic bone. The ball is the femoral head, which is the upper end of the femur (thighbone).

A lubricated tissue called articular cartilage covers the surface of the ball and the socket. It creates a smooth, low friction surface that helps the bones glide easily across each other.

The outer rim of the acetabulum is encased by a rubbery ring of tissue called the labrum.

The labrum is similar to the meniscus in the knee that patients often refer to as the cartilage.

The entire joint is surrounded by a tough fibrous capsule and special thickenings in this, called ligaments, help resist specific forces and provide extra stability.