Ball-and-socket joints are inherently stable. The strong muscles, ligaments, and fibrous joint capsule of the hip reinforce this innate stability. Consequently, in the average adult, a great deal of force must be transmitted to dislocate the hip. This is significant, as the patient with a hip dislocation may have other life-threatening injuries that take precedence over the management of the hip dislocation. The mortality associated with a hip dislocation results from associated injuries of the head, thorax, or pelvis.