Ball and socket joint Ball and socket joint The ball and socket joint (or spheroid joint) is a type of synovial joint in which the ball-shaped surface of one rounded bone fits into the cup-like depression of another bone. The distal bone is capable of motion around an indefinite number of axes, which have one common center. It enables the bone to move in many places (nearly all directions). An enarthrosis is a special kind of spheroidal joint in which the socket covers the sphere beyond its equator. Examples of this form of articulation are found in the hip, where the round head of
Hip replacement or to erode the acetabulum. Hip resurfacing is an alternative to hip replacement surgery. It has been used in Europe for over seventeen years and become a common procedure. Health-related quality of life measures are markedly improved and patient satisfaction is favorable after hip resurfacing arthroplasty. The minimally invasive hip resurfacing procedure is a further refinement to hip resurfacing. Current alternatives also include viscosupplementation, or the injection of artificial lubricants into the joint. Use of these medications in the hip is off label. The cost of treatment is typically not covered by health insurance organizations. Some believe that the future