Tag Archive for: hip injury

Hip Dislocation

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Hip dislocation is an injury in which the ball joint of your hip comes out of its socket. A dislocated hip is considered a medical emergency. Both short-term relief and long-term recovery depend on urgent care. A hip dislocation causes acute pain and disables your leg until it’s corrected. It can also cause secondary injuries to the surrounding blood vessels, nerves, ligaments, and tissues. This type of injury can cause long-term damage, especially if it’s not treated right away with quality care. At the Colorado Center of Orthopedic Excellence in Colorado Springs, Colorado, you’ll find the best orthopedic hip specialists with the skill and experience to treat the complexities of any hip dislocation. The quality medical care you receive at Advanced Orthopedics will help you preserve as much of your hip functionality as possible for as long as possible.

OVERVIEW

The hip is normally one of the most secure joints in the body. Unless one has a prosthetic hip or hip dysplasia, it takes a lot of force to cause a hip dislocation, such as in a motor vehicle accident. Hip dysplasia is a developmental condition in which the hip joint doesn’t fit well into the socket. The incidence of hip dislocation has been reported to range from less than 1% to as high as 22%, depending on the patient population or if the dislocation happens to the native hip or a prosthetic hip.

ABOUT THE HIP

The hip joint is a ball-and-socket joint. It is the junction where the hip joins the leg to the trunk of the body. It is comprised of two bones: the thighbone (femur) and the pelvis. The ball, at the top of the femur is called the femoral head. The socket, called the acetabulum, is a part of the pelvis. The ball rotates in the cup-shaped socket, allowing the leg to move forward, backward, and sideways. Surrounding muscles and ligaments and a thick band of cartilage called the labrum stabilize the joint.

WHAT IS A HIP DISLOCATION?

There are different classifications of hip dislocations depending on location and severity.

  • Posterior Hip Dislocation: Up to 90% of all hip dislocations are posterior. In this type of injury, the ball is pushed backward out of the socket.
  • Anterior Hip Dislocation: Anterior dislocations are much less common, in this type of injury, the femoral head is pushed forward out of the socket. It is possible with an anterior hip dislocation to have a fracture of the femoral head. These are normally seen in side-impact collisions.
  • Hip Subluxation: A hip subluxation is when the ball of the hip joint starts to come out of the socket but does not do so fully. A hip subluxation, also known as a partial hip dislocation, can turn into a fully dislocated hip joint if not allowed to heal correctly.

If not adequately treated, a hip dislocation can lead to complications, including sciatic nerve injury and damage and tears in the ligament or soft tissue that lead to impaired range of motion.

Read more about Hip Dislocation on our new Colorado Springs Orthopedic News Site – Colorado Springs Orthopedic News. Schedule an appointment with a hip specialist today.

Different Types of Hip Injuries

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The hips are one of the strongest parts of the human body and serve a crucial role in keeping us on our feet. Unfortunately, there are a variety of hip injuries that not only cause a lot of pain but can also bring a person’s life to a halt. Let’s take a look at some of the most common hip injuries and ways orthopedic physicians treat them. 

Hip Labral Tear

A labral tear is a type of hip injury in which the cartilage structure covering the ball and socket joint in the hip is torn or detached from the socket. Cartilage provides stability to the joint, absorbing and distributing shock and pressure when the pelvis moves. A hip labral tear is typically corrected through surgery or physical therapy, depending on the severity of the tear.

Hip Fracture

Hip fractures happen when a bone in the hip breaks. Repetitive motion and traumatic injuries due to sudden impact are common reasons for a hip fracture. As we age, our hips are more prone to fractures, so elderly individuals have to be careful in avoiding falls and accidents. A hip fracture typically require surgery to fix.

Snapping Hip Syndrome (Dancer’s Hip)

A hip condition that is caused by repetitive movements is the snapping hip syndrome (also called Dancer’s hip). This condition causes discomfort and pain when getting up to stand from a sitting position and when walking or running. It causes a snapping or popping sound when the pelvic region is flexed or stretched. Dancer’s hip often occurs to ballet dancers, gymnasts, and equestrians. Snapping hip syndrome is treated in a variety of ways including rest, physical therapy, and steroid injections.

Bursitis

Bursitis is considered one of the most common hip injuries. Bursitis happens in the hip when the bursae, a liquid filled sac that serves as a cushion to the bones, tendons, and muscles near the pelvic joint, is inflamed. This condition often occurs in women and middle-aged people. Common symptoms include pain during squatting, climbing steps, and walking, and swelling and warmth in the outer thigh. Bursitis is treated through medication, physical therapy, injections, and surgery. The specific treatment a patient needs depends on the severity of the condition.

Hip Dislocation

A hip dislocation is a misalignment of the thighbone out of the ball and socket joint. This happens when a strong force is applied to the hips or due to a congenital deformation, such as hip dysplasia. The most common symptoms associated with a hip dislocation are pain and inability to bear weight on the hip. A hip dislocation is typically treated through a process called reduction (manipulation of the leg to move the hip bones back into place) or surgery. 

These are just a few hip injuries the Colorado Center of Orthopaedic Excellence treats every day. If you experience hip pain and or have a hip injury, get an appointment with one of our board-certified physicians for a correct diagnosis and an effective treatment plan. Call us today at (719) 623-1050 or set an appointment online.