Hip Dislocation

A hip dislocation is a serious and painful injury. The hip is a ball-and-socket joint, where the head of the femur fits snugly into the acetabulum (hip socket). When enough force is applied, the femoral head can be forced out of the socket in the pelvis, resulting in a dislocated hip. This type of injury is often caused by high-impact trauma, such as a car accident or serious fall, and it requires immediate medical attention to prevent long-term complications.

There are two main types of hip dislocations:

• Posterior dislocation (most common): The femoral head is pushed backward out of the socket
• Anterior dislocation: The femoral head is pushed forward

In some cases, the dislocation may be associated with fractures, nerve damage, or injuries to surrounding soft tissues.

What Causes a Hip to Dislocate?
Because the hip joint is inherently stable, it takes significant force to cause a dislocation. Common causes include:

• Motor vehicle accidents (most frequent cause)
• Severe falls, especially in older adults
• Sports injuries from contact or impact sports
• Congenital conditions or previous hip replacements that make the joint less stable

Patients with a history of hip surgery, especially a hip replacement, are at increased risk of dislocation from even low-impact movements.

Symptoms of a Hip Dislocation
Hip dislocation symptoms are often immediate and intense:

• Severe hip or groin pain
• Inability to move the leg or bear weight
• Visible deformity the leg may appear shortened or rotated
• Swelling and bruising
• Numbness or weakness if nerves are affected

If you suspect a dislocated hip, do not attempt to move the leg, seek emergency medical care right away.

Diagnosing a Hip Dislocation
After a traumatic injury, imaging is critical to confirm the diagnosis and assess for related damage.

Your Iowa Ortho provider may order:

• X-rays to determine the direction of the dislocation and check for fractures
• CT scan for more detailed imaging
• MRI to evaluate soft tissue damage and cartilage injury

Treatment Options
Hip dislocations require urgent realignment to avoid complications such as avascular necrosis, where the blood supply to the femoral head is compromised.

Non-Surgical Treatment

• Closed reduction: A manual procedure performed under sedation to reposition the femoral head into the socket
• Imaging follow-up to confirm successful alignment
• Rest, bracing, and physical therapy to restore strength and range of motion

Patients typically use crutches for a few weeks during recovery.

Surgical Treatment
Surgery may be required if:

• The dislocation is accompanied by fractures
• There is soft tissue entrapment or damage to cartilage
• The hip is unstable or continues to dislocate
• The patient has a prosthetic hip that requires revision surgery

Recovery and Rehabilitation
Recovery from a hip dislocation can take 6–12 weeks, depending on the severity of the injury and whether surgery was needed. A rehabilitation plan will focus on:

• Pain management
• Improving hip mobility
• Restoring strength and balance
• Preventing future dislocations

Our Iowa Ortho physical therapists will work closely with you to ensure a safe, progressive return to your normal activities.

A hip dislocation is a medical emergency, but long-term management also matters. Iowa Ortho’s hip and trauma specialists provide comprehensive care for hip dislocations and trauma-related conditions. If you’ve experienced a dislocation, especially if you’ve had hip surgery in the past, follow-up care is essential to monitor healing and avoid future issues.