Knee or Hip Trauma

One of the most common conditions requiring joint replacement is trauma, either to the hip joint or the knee joint. Trauma can be caused by a sudden injury from an accident, a fall or any other strong impact to the region.

Hip Injuries

Falls are the most common source of trauma to the hip, but any sudden impact to the hip area can either fracture the bone, dislocate the hip socket or cause a bone to separate from its support structures, such as the tendons. A bone doesn’t have to break to be considered a traumatic injury that requires non-surgical or surgical joint procedures to correct.

Hip injuries can be signaled by sudden pain, swelling, a deformity or a change in the range of motion. You may also notice bruising in the region or a sharp, snapping sound, either at the moment of injury or when the joint is moved.

Learn more about treatment options, including hip replacement surgery.

Knee Injuries

Knees are also prone to traumatic injury, either from a fall, a car accident, a sports injury or a workplace injury. These types of injuries can cause the cartilage to break down. Other traumatic injuries can be caused by a sudden twist of the knee or a direct blow to the knee.

Though older Americans account for approximately 70% of all knee replacement operations, young patients are also candidates for knee replacement surgeries due to trauma suffered during their growth stage. Osteoarthritis can be a side effect of these injuries, requiring an eventual knee replacement procedure 15 to 20 years down the road.

If you’ve suffered a traumatic injury to the knee or hip joint that is still limiting your mobility or causes pain or other complications, you may be a candidate for a knee or hip joint replacement procedure or non-surgical treatments offered by the joint experts at the FHCH Joint Replacement Center. 

Learn more about treatment options, including knee replacement surgery.