Snapping hip syndrome is a condition characterized by a snapping sensation or clicking sound in the hip when it is bent or straightened. The snapping sensation generally occurs as a muscle or tendon moves over a bony protrusion in the hip area. A snapping hip is usually just a minor annoyance, but it can sometimes…

Arthritis is the term used to refer to inflammation of one or more joints. There are many types of arthritis and a number of difference causes. Inflammatory arthritis occurs when your body’s immune system becomes overactive and attacks itself. It is a type of autoimmune condition. Inflammatory arthritis can affect many joints throughout the body,…

Transient osteoporosis of the hip is an uncommon condition that causes temporary bone loss in the upper portion of the femur (thighbone). It typically occurs in young or middle-aged men (30 to 60 years of age) and women in the last three months of pregnancy or in the early post-delivery period. Transient osteoporosis can sometimes…

Femoroacetabular impingement is a condition in which the hip bones do not fit together properly, so they rub against each other and cause damage to the joint. The hip bones normally form a ball-and-socket type of joint, in which the ball-shaped top portion of the thighbone, known as the femoral head, is firmly positioned in…

Osteonecrosis of the hip is a painful condition that occurs when the blood supply to the femoral head is disrupted, causing bone cells in the head to die. The femoral head is the ball-like portion at the top of the thighbone that sits in the cup-like depression in the pelvic bone known as the acetabulum.…

Osteoarthritis is a degenerative type of arthritis that occurs most often in people 50 and older. More than 32.5 million adults in the United States are estimated to have osteoarthritis. While osteoarthritis can occur in any joint of the body, it is usually more common or more severe in weight-bearing joints, such as the hip.…

Hip bursitis is an inflammation of one of the bursae in the hip region. Bursae are small fluid-filled sacs positioned between bones and surrounding soft tissues, which act as cushions to help reduce friction between the different structures. They are found in many parts of the body. When bursae become inflamed, they produce an excessive…

Dislocating your hip is a medical emergency, for which you should receive immediate treatment. As it usually requires a major force to dislocate the hip, it is often caused by a major fall or automobile accident. Because of this, injuries in other areas of the body are often present as well. When hip dislocation occurs,…

A hip fracture is a break in the upper quarter of the femur (thighbone). The hip is a ball-and-socket joint that supports our upper body and allows us to be mobile and active. The ball is the upper end of the femur — called the femoral head — which fits into the socket (a cup-like…