Healthscope Orthopaedics Services

Hip injuries can affect people of all ages – from infancy to older adulthood. Depending on the injury and factors like your health and lifestyle, treatment may involve surgery or conservative treatment.

Common hip injuries

Some common injuries to the hip include:

Hip fractures

Hip fractures are serious and painful injuries involving a break in one of the hip bones – usually near the top of the thigh. They occur most often in older people following a fall, but they can also occur spontaneously in people with osteoporosis. Younger people may also suffer a hip fracture in an accident. Urgent medical treatment is needed for a hip fracture. Surgery is often needed to repair or replace damaged bones.

Hip dislocation

This painful injury occurs when the ball at the top of the thigh bone comes completely out of its socket. Hip dislocations are most often caused by significant trauma, such as a car accident or heavy fall. People who’ve had a hip joint replacement may also be more likely to have a hip dislocation. Tissues surrounding the hip, including bones, ligaments, muscles and nerves, are often also damaged. A hip dislocation requires urgent medical attention because it can lead to lasting problems if left untreated.

Hip subluxation

This occurs when the hip joint comes partly out of its usual position. It causes similar symptoms to a dislocation – including pain, swelling, and trouble weight bearing – only less severe. Urgent medical care is needed. A hip subluxation is typically caused by an injury such as a fall or sporting accident. Some people are born with conditions (such as hip dysplasia) that can make their hip less stable, making a subluxation more likely.

Labral tear

The labrum is a special form of cartilage that helps keep the ball of the hip securely in its socket and aids smooth hip movement. Labral tears rarely occur on their own but can happen alongside other injuries. They are common in sports involving fast, sudden movements, like soccer and netball. People with hip abnormalities such as impingement or dysplasia may be more prone to labral tears. Labral tears can be very difficult to diagnose, and the cartilage does not easily heal. This makes it vital for this injury to be accurately diagnosed and properly managed.

Hip dysplasia

Hip dysplasia is a condition where the hip socket is not deep enough to hold the ball securely, leading to a slight dislocation. Usually present from birth, hip dysplasia is often diagnosed during childhood. However, it may not be discovered until it leads to pain, limping, arthritis or a dislocation in adulthood.

Soft tissue injuries

The muscles, ligaments and tendons around the hip can also be torn, strained or bruised as a result of injury. These injuries can cause pain, swelling, bruising and movement difficulties.

How are hip injuries diagnosed?

To find the cause of your hip problem, your health professional will do different things depending on the type and severity of your injury. For example, if you’ve suffered a hip fracture or dislocation, an emergency doctor will order imaging tests such as an X-ray, CT scan or MRI to see what’s happening with your hip.

They will also look for any signs of injury to other tissues, such as nerves or blood vessels, which could be serious if not discovered and treated. An orthopaedic specialist will be consulted to help with the diagnosis and deciding the best course of action.

If you’ve had symptoms for a while, your doctor will probably do an assessment in their rooms. They will ask questions like how and when your hip injury happened, and how it affects your daily life. They will have a look at your hip, checking things like your movement, leg alignment and walking.

Your doctor might also refer you for imaging tests to look at what’s happening in your hip joint, along with blood tests. These help provide a more complete picture of your hip injury. Your doctor might also refer you to an orthopaedic specialist for a review and opinion.

How are hip injuries treated?

Hip injuries come in a wide range of types and severities, which will influence how they’re treated. A serious injury such as a fracture or dislocation needs urgent and specialised medical care in a hospital. Treatment for a soft tissue injury might involve rest, cold therapy and a gradual return to activity.

Non-surgical treatment for hip injuries

Examples of non-surgical treatments for hip injuries include:

Medications – such as pain killers and anti-inflammatories.

Physiotherapy – to ease symptoms and treat underlying issues such as stiffness, muscle weakness or altered walking patterns.

Exercises – to improve flexibility, strength and movement control.

Heat or cold therapy – to reduce inflammation and ease pain.

Corticosteroid injections – to reduce pain and inflammation.

Assistive devices – such as walking aids to take pressure off the injured hip.

Advice to help you lose excess weight if needed.

Surgical treatment for hip injuries

Some hip injuries require surgery to repair or replace damaged tissues and help ensure you have the best chance of making a good long-term recovery. Your orthopaedic surgeon can discuss your options with you and provide guidance about the best course of action in your situation.

Examples of surgeries used to manage hip injuries include:

Repairs

Some hip fractures are managed by repairing the damaged bones with pins, plates or screws. Labral tears may be managed by shaving off or removing damaged sections of tissue.

Partial hip replacement

If only one part of the hip joint is damaged, it may be possible to replace it with an artificial one.

Total hip replacement

Some injuries need the whole hip joint to be replaced with an artificial one. Hip replacements are also sometimes used to manage hip arthritis.

How long does it take to recover from a hip injury?

Hip injuries are a very broad and diverse group of injuries. Recovery time can vary significantly from one type of hip injury to another. A torn tendon, for example, could get better in about six weeks, whereas it could take a year or more to recover from a hip fracture.

Many people will need rehabilitation after a major hip injury to restore their movement, function and ability to do things like drive, work and participate in sports or hobbies.

Your orthopaedic surgeon can provide personalised advice about how long it might take for you to recover from your hip injury.

References

https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/hip-pain
Content reviewed by Dr David Slattery, Orthopaedic Surgeon at Knox Private Hospital and Holmesglen Private Hospital.