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Hip fracture repair constitutes one of the most common procedures performed by orthopedic surgeons. The human hip consists of two bones, the hipbone and the thighbone (femur), and their point of intersection. This is a cup-shaped cavity called the acetabulum. This hip joint forms a ball-and-socket mechanism that allows the leg to move in different directions. As a major weight-bearing joint, the hip is vulnerable to sudden trauma, such as sports injuries, and degenerative aging disorders, such as osteoporosis. If the loss of bone mass associated with osteoporosis is sufficiently advanced, a simple fall from a standing position can shatter the hip joint. The most common fracture involves the femur snapping or cracking just below the rounded end that fits into the acetabulum.

A fracture is a break in a bone, either partial or complete, resulting from an applied force greater than the bone’s internal strength. The most common causes of fractures are accidents and trauma.