A hip fracture is a break in the upper part of the thighbone (femur) where the thighbone joins the pelvis to form the hip joint. Most hip fractures occur in the area just below the ball of the femur (femoral neck region) and the area just below this (intertrochanteric region). A hip fracture almost always completely breaks the bone. A partial break in the bone (hairline fracture) may occur but is not as common and may not show up on an X-ray.