Reconstructive Surgery of the Hip Joint Involved with Pressure Ulcer, Pathological Conditions, and Trauma

Abstract

The hip is a powerful joint in the human body. In ambulatory patients, the hip joint is necessary for standing, walking, and sitting. In paralyzed individuals (those with paraplegia or tetraplegia), the hip joint has an important function, depending on the extent of the paralysis, when sitting in a wheelchair. The hip joint acts to stabilize the sitting position, in transferring from the wheelchair to another surface and vice versa, and when turning from side to side. The hip joint acts to stabilize the lower extremities. It has a powerful muscle attachment and strong capsule. Unfortunately, in paralyzed individuals, the hip joint can be affected directly or indirectly by pathological conditions close to the hip joint or by traumatic conditions, for example, the direct extension of infection or necrosis from pressure ulcers such as the trochanteric ulcer or ischial ulcer. These are common examples of conditions that can affect the hip by causing septic hip and eventually osteomyelitis of the femoral bone or pelvic bone or abscess of the iliopsoas muscles.