An injury in which the hip joint is moved out of place.

Dislocation of the hip is an injury in which the head of the thighbone is pushed backward or forward from its socket in the hip bone. It takes great force to dislocate the hip. Common causes are car accidents and falls from heights.

A hip dislocation is painful. It can be hard to move the leg. If there is nerve damage, there may be tingling or numbness in the foot or ankle.

Medical treatment is needed right away. Treatments include pushing the bone in place by hand, surgery, pain medicine and rehabilitation to strengthen the muscles around the hip.