Normal Female Hemipelvis - Female, 53 Years

What Is the Hip Joint?

The hip is the largest weight-bearing joint in the human body. A ball-and-socket joint, the hip joint consists of a ball (the top of the femur, also known as the thigh bone) and a socket (the pelvis, also known as the hip bone). Hip pain is a common orthopedic condition that interferes with the ability to walk, stand and, in severe cases, to sleep. 

Hip Replacement Surgery

When pain is not improved or mobility is limited, surgery may be recommended. Hip replacement surgery, also called hip arthroplasty, removes the damaged parts of the hip joint and replaces them with artificial parts made of metal, ceramic or plastic. The artificial parts help reduce pain and restore mobility. 

A total hip replacement (total hip arthroplasty) replaces both the ball and the socket in the joint. A partial hip replacement only replaces the ball. Arthritis is the most common reason for hip replacement. More than 450,000 hip replacements are performed in the U.S. each year, primarily in people older than age 50.

Iliopsoas Fractional Lengthening (IFL)

Internal snapping hip syndrome is a common cause of hip pain. The condition occurs when a muscle in the hip flexor, the iliopsoas tendon, catches on the hip bone. The result is a sensation of snapping or popping that causes pain and a feeling of instability in the hip. When conservative treatment for the condition isn’t effective, iliopsoas fractional lengthening (IFL) is a minimally invasive surgical option that lengthens the tendon to reduce friction and painful snapping in the hip joint.