Pelvic fractures can either involve the ring formed by the pelvis or the hip joint (socket).  These two conditions are treated differently, as it is important to stabilize the pelvic ring structure to allow a solid platform on which the hip joint is mounted, and it is essential to restore the smooth hip socket to prevent early degeneration and arthritis occurring.  Similarly, if a pelvic fracture is around a total hip replacement it is essential to restore the stability of the implant to ensure that the hip replacement functions normally.