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Overview
The hip joint is a ball and socket joint. The ball which is the top of the thigh bone (femur), articulates with the socket (acetabulum) of the pelvic bone. A procedure called a surgical hip dislocation may be performed if the ball has a small lesion commonly caused by trauma or avascular necrosis (AVN or osteonecrosis). The procedure allows full access to the hip for transplantation of bone and cartilage from an organ donor. Additionally, it allows for labral repair and reshaping of impingement lesions. If the ball lesion is too large or if the cartilage damage is too widespread, a hip replacement might be recommended instead.
Early stages of avascular necrosis can be treated by core decompression surgery, which reduces pressure, promotes blood flow and encourages healing of the bone. Core decompression is indicated in the early stages of avascular necrosis, when the surface of the head is still smooth and round. It is done to prevent or postpone hip replacement surgery.
