We often associate hip injuries mostly with older people because of their weaker muscles and fragile bones. However, hip injuries can occur in people of all ages and are more common in athletes and people who participate in physical activities.
Overuse and trauma are two of the most common causes of hip injuries. The best course of action following a hip injury is to accept the injury, take some time to rest, and seek rehabilitative treatment.
Keep reading to find out about common hip injuries, how they are treated, and where you can go to receive care from the best orthopedic surgeons in San Antonio, Texas.
Hip Labral Tear
The labrum is a ring of cartilage that surrounds the acetabulum or the socket of the hip joint. It holds the head of the femur in the socket while helping it move smoothly in the socket without pain. It also prevents the bones of the femur and hip from rubbing on each other directly.
Repetitive twisting and high-impact movement in sports like ice hockey, football, and golf can rip the labrum. Common symptoms of a labral tear include pain in the hip or groin, pain while twisting the hip and clicking or locking at the hip.
A minor labral tear can be managed with rest, physical therapy, anti-inflammatory medication, and cortisone shots. However, if your tear is severe, you may need repair surgery.
Hip Fractures
A hip fracture is any break in the upper portion of the femur where it meets the pelvis (hip bone). Hip fractures commonly occur in one of two locations of the femur: the femoral neck, or the intertrochanteric region (a region that is a little farther down from the hip joint).
Bones that are weak and brittle, particularly those of aging people, are more likely to break during injuries like falls.
Hip fractures are usually treated with surgery to fix the fracture. After surgery, patients take medication and undergo rehabilitation to manage pain and prevent infection. In more severe cases of hip fracture, hip replacement surgery is performed.
Hip Dislocation
Hip dislocation is a medical emergency in which the ball of the femur pops out of the hip socket. In addition to causing pain, hip dislocation can disable your affected leg until treatment.
Generally, it takes a lot of force to push the hip ball out of its socket. Most hip dislocations occur from car crashes, significant falls, or industrial workplace injuries.
Typically, hip dislocation is treated by reduction, which is when the healthcare provider uses force to put the joint back in place. Rarely, surgery is a necessary treatment for hip dislocation.
Bursitis
Bursitis is a condition in which the bursae, or fluid-filled sacs around the hip joint, are inflamed. Bursae protect and cushion the hip joint, and they can become painful to the touch under the skin when inflamed.
Several factors can lead to bursitis, including acute injury, overuse, previous surgery, and unequal leg length.
Bursitis hip pain starts at the point of the hip and, later, spread across a larger area of the hip.
Hip bursitis can be treated with activity modification, adequate rest, physical therapy, over—the—counter anti-inflammatory medications, cortisone shots, or surgery in severe cases.
Best Orthopedic Surgeon in San Antonio, TX
If you have sustained a hip injury and are suffering from pain and discomfort, visit our highly trained professionals at the Center for Orthopedic Surgery and Sports Medicine for thorough evaluation and treatment. Our orthopedic surgeons have the expertise to diagnose and treat your hip condition using the latest and greatest treatments available.
If you would like to make an appointment with us, call today at (210) 692-7400 or request your appointment online.
