What Is Dislocation of a Prosthetic Hip?
Prosthetic hips are designed to mimic the function of a normal hips and provide near-normal ranges of hip motion. However, prosthetic hip joints have certain disadvantages, including increased hip dislocation risk. Hip dislocation is a risk factor inherent to prosthetic hip implants. Function Dislocation of a prosthetic hip occurs when the femoral head, or hip bone, slips out of the hip socket, or acetabulum. This generally occurs as the result of a fall or injury that twists the hip in an abnormal and excessive manner. Significance When a prosthetic hip dislocates, the hip joint becomes very unstable and painful. Walking is generally not possible without the use of a crutch. Immediate medical attention is required to put the dislocated femoral head back into the hip socket. This is normally done under anesthesia by an orthopedic surgeon. Considerations A prosthetic hip joint is less stable than a normal hip joint and, as a result, is more prone to dislocation. This is due primarily to
