Many people with hip dislocation are born with the condition. For others, hip dislocation is caused by a traumatic injury such as a car accident or a severe fall.

When a traumatic hip dislocation occurs, the head of the thighbone (femur) is forced out of its socket in the hip bone (pelvis). This type of traumatic injury is a medical emergency that requires immediate treatment.

A hip dislocation can also damage the protective cartilage covering the ends of bone. This, in turn, increases the future risk of developing arthritis in the joint.