Hip Pointer Symptoms, Diagnosis, and Treatment

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  Overview
  
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  Symptoms & Diagnosis
  
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  Treatment
  

What Is a Hip Pointer?

A hip pointer is a deep bruise to the ridge of bone on the upper outside of your hip, called the iliac crest. It’s often a result of a direct blow to the hip or a hard fall.

Hip pointer symptoms include pain and tenderness. Recovery from the injury usually involves taking a break from activity until it heals.

Hip pointer causes and risk factors

Hip pointer injuries are common in athletes who play contact sports, such as football and hockey. It can also happen to volleyball players or other athletes who often fall on their hip or side.

You can reduce the risk of a hip pointer by wearing proper protective gear while playing sports. 

Learn more about hip pointers and other hip injuries

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Hip Pointer Symptoms and Diagnosis

Hip pointer symptoms

Symptoms of a hip pointer injury can range from minor to major.

For a minor bruise, you may have some pain and tenderness on the upper outside of your hip.

If the hip pointer injury is more serious, you may have symptoms such as:

• Bruising or swelling.
• Severe pain or tenderness to the touch.
• Limited range of motion in your hip.
• Weakness in your hip or leg.

Hip pointer sports injury diagnosis

To diagnose a hip pointer, the doctors at UPMC Sports Medicine will ask you how the injury occurred.

To rule out more severe hip injuries, like fracture, your doctor may order imaging tests such as:

• X-rays
• MRIs
• Ultrasounds 

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Hip Pointer Treatment and Rehabilitation

Hip pointer treatment

Hip pointers get better on their own with rest, ice, and compression. While it heals, you might still be able to play sports by wearing a protective pad over your hip.

For more severe hip pointer injuries, you may need to use crutches.

Recovery time for a hip pointer varies from a few weeks to a few months, depending on the severity.

Hip pointer rehab

If needed after hip pointer treatment, rehab may consist of stretches and muscle strengthening exercises around your hip.

You might also need gait training if you have to use crutches for an extended period. 

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Bruised Hip: Symptoms, Treatment, and Causes

Overview

An injured hip can leave a bruise. A bruise occurs when the small blood vessels tear, but the skin doesn’t break. This causes the blood to leak into the surrounding soft tissue and muscle, which leads to the discoloration underneath the skin.

A bruise is often reddish in color when it’s fresh and turns blue or purple within a few hours. After a few days, a bruise usually turns yellow or green as it heals.

Read on to learn how to treat a bruised hip, when to see your doctor, and more.

The most obvious symptom of a bruised hip is the skin discoloration.

Other symptoms may not develop for up to 48 hours after the injury to your hip has occurred. The affected hip may feel stiff. You could have difficulty moving it, like when walking.

Pain often increases if any pressure is applied to the bruise. You might have swelling in the area or even a lump at or near the bruise site. The bruise itself often feels tender.

The most common cause of a bruised hip is a fall, but any injury to the hip can lead to a bruise. Other causes of a bruised hip can include:

• banging into an object
• being kicked
• being hit with a large object
• experiencing a hip strain
• experiencing a hip fracture

Your doctor can diagnose a bruised hip by examining it. They may also use an MRI scan to determine the depth and extent of the bruise.

However, since bruises usually heal without treatment within a few days, you might choose not to visit your doctor.

But if pain is severe or it’s very difficult to move your hip, it’s important that you do go and see your doctor. They can check to ensure that your hip or leg isn’t in fact broken. To do this, your doctor will use an X-ray to confirm a diagnosis.

Call 911 or your local emergency services if:

• You’re in too much pain to move.
• You’re unable to put any weight on your hip.
• You have numbness in your leg or toes.

These symptoms suggest a serious injury that needs immediate medical attention. Any attempt to move in these circumstances could worsen your injury.

The length of time it’ll take to recover varies depending upon the severity of your injury and the depth of the contusion. It may take as long as two to four weeks to recover fully. You can return to normal activities as soon as you feel able.

Don’t massage, heat, or stretch your injured muscles while you’re recovering. Doing so can hinder healing. Avoid or limit any alcohol use during recovery as well. Alcohol can also slow healing.

A bruised hip can occur after any traumatic injury to the area. If the injury results in a bruise alone, a full recovery should be made quite soon.

Home remedies and OTC medications can help you heal. See your doctor if your pain doesn’t decrease after home treatment, or if you have any questions about your symptoms.

Hip injuries

Bone density decreases significantly with age. And this is due to the natural aging of the body, in which regenerative abilities deteriorate, the amount of moisture in the tissues decreases sharply, the activity of cellular processes slows down, and the human hormonal background changes. A natural consequence of these changes will always be an increased risk of fractures and other hip injuries.

In young people, injuries to the femur occur much less frequently, and, as a rule, due to traffic accidents, strong blows, falls from a height. In addition, the hip joint is subject to bruises, dislocations and sprains of the periarticular tissues, like any other joint.

In case of a hip injury, an urgent appeal to an orthopedist-traumatologist in Zaporozhye is necessary. The Rudenko Orthopedics Clinic will provide timely medical assistance in order to prevent complications and restore the joint as quickly as possible.

Which hip injuries are common?

Contusion of the hip joint

Usually develops with a moderate mechanical impact on the joint area. At the site of injury, hematomas, soft tissue edema, and local pain may occur. In case of severe bruising, there may be hemorrhage into the joint cavity, which requires puncture. There are no bone-traumatic changes with bruises. A person with such a hip injury does not need hospitalization, treatment usually consists of dynamic monitoring and pain medication.

Sprain of the muscles and ligaments of the thigh

This type of injury usually develops along with a bruise or any other injury. Usually, professional athletes receive such an injury in the process of power loads, but sometimes it also occurs in everyday life. When the muscles or ligaments of the thigh are stretched, a person is worried about a sharp pain, which is often localized at one point, and as a result, the range of motion is limited in one of the planes. At the same time, axial load on the limb is possible and its support function is not changed. Treatment is conservative, aimed at anesthesia and immobilization.

Dislocation of the hip

Such an injury occurs as a result of a sharp single mechanical stimulus, the strength of which exceeds the functional capabilities of the joint. With a dislocation, the ratio of the articular surfaces of the acetabulum and the head of the femur is disturbed. Depending on the direction of the displaced head, dislocations are distinguished:

• posterior-iliac, the most common
• Posterior – Ischial
• anterosuperior – suprapubic
• anteroinferior – obturator
• central – for fractures of the acetabulum, the femoral head is immersed in the pelvic cavity

Dislocation of the hip – an emergency requiring urgent attention. The treatment consists in comparing the articular surfaces under general anesthesia with complete muscle relaxation. Central hip dislocation is treated with skeletal traction.

If the dislocation has not been eliminated in time, the body tries to compensate for such an injury as much as possible by the growth of connective tissue around the joint and thickening of the ligamentous apparatus. This allows for minimal functionality and does not allow the displaced bone to damage the periarticular tissues and neurovascular bundles.

!!! Treatment of chronic dislocation only surgical.

Fractures of the femur

Depending on whether the skin is damaged, they are:

• Open
• Closed

By displacement of fragments:

• Without displacement
• Offset

How do you know if you have a hip fracture?

There are several typical signs by which such an injury can be confidently identified:

• Severe pain syndrome
• Inability to actively move the leg
• Stuck heel symptom

Inability to lift the leg off the surface

• External rotation symptom

Due to the displacement of fragments, the foot will be directed with the toe to the outside

• Shortening of the limb

The injured leg will be clearly shorter than the other, which means that the bone fragments are displaced

• Characteristic crunch (crepitus) of bone fragments on palpation of the affected area
• Presence of injury on x-ray

Fracture of the femoral neck

It is difficult to single out an injury to the hip joint that would occur more often. This is a classic injury that occurs in older people. More often, hip fractures occur in women, this is due to the onset of menopause and a decrease in estrogen levels, which are responsible in particular for bone density. The mechanism of injury is a common fall from a height of one’s own height. This, at first glance, insignificant, reason is quite enough for an elderly person to acquire a serious obstacle in his everyday life.

Types of fractures of the femoral neck by location:

• Subcapital – the line is located immediately under the head of the femur
• Transcervical – line crossing the cervix
• Basiscervical – the line is at the base of the cervix

Treatment of femoral neck fractures

Different tactics are used in different age categories of patients. But the basis of the method of choice is the probability of bone fusion without intervention. The more concomitant pathologies a person has or he is in a forced lying position, has a large weight, an oncological history, the less likely it is that the fracture will heal on its own. Why is this happening? Due to the anatomical features, this area of ​​the bone is more vulnerable to such damage than any other. And since the neck is an area with reduced blood supply, and in case of injury, the vessels additionally rupture, and the trophism of the affected area may stop, sometimes fusion does not occur at all. The basis of the fusion of the femoral neck is early rehabilitation and moderate dosed physical activity.

In cases where self-healing of a fracture is almost impossible, hip arthroplasty is successfully used. In the Rudenko clinic, traumatologists have many years of experience in this kind of operations. In our medical center, professionals perform joint replacement with unipolar or bipolar prostheses.

Transtrochanteric fracture of the femur

In this type of injury, the fracture line passes through the greater and lesser trochanters in the proximal femur. Often this type happens with displacement and separation of the lesser trochanter.

First aid for a person with a hip fracture

Since the femur is the largest in the human body, has a large network of blood supply and innervation, and is part of the largest and most critical joint for the human body, it is necessary to provide timely and correct first aid for its fractures . This will help to avoid unpleasant complications and will significantly help in further treatment and rehabilitation.

Measures to take immediately at the site of a hip injury:

• Pain medication injection
• Inspection of the limb for bleeding and its control
• Fixation of injured limb with Dieterichs splint or modified Cramer splint

After first aid, it is imperative to transport a person to a specialized institution, where he will be given a full examination and full medical care.

Clinic Rudenka is a medical institution with a high level of trust. Every day we help people with various types of injuries and hip injuries are no exception. Efficiency and professionalism are all that is necessary to provide medical care with the most successful result. At the Rudenko clinic, we are always ready to take care of your health. Any additional information you can get by phone number +38(067)8678727.

Contusion of the hip joints causes, symptoms, who treats

Contusion of the hip joint in simple terms

Contusion of the hip joint is an injury that can occur as a result of a blow, fall or other traumatic impact on the pelvis and thigh. It may be associated with damage to joint structures such as the joint capsule, ligaments, tendons, and surrounding tissues.

What needs to be done to diagnose and treat contusion of the hip joints ? To solve this problem, the first step for the patient is to make an appointment with an orthopedist. After the initial examination, the doctor may prescribe additional tests:

• MRI of the hip joint
• CT scan of the hip joint.

Hip contusion severity

Hip contusion can have different degrees of severity based on the severity of the injury and symptoms. In general, the degree of injury can be classified as follows:

I degree (slight contusion of the hip joint): Characterized by minor tissue damage in the hip joint. There may be mild pain, swelling, and bruising. The functionality of the joint remains largely preserved.

II degree (moderate contusion of the hip joint): In this case, tissue damage is more pronounced. Swelling and bruising are more noticeable, soreness is possible when moving the joint. The movement restriction may be noticeable and some functional limitations may occur.

Grade III (severe hip contusion): This is the most severe degree of hip contusion. In this case, damage to the tissues of the joint is significant, fractures or ruptures of ligaments and tendons are possible. Severe pain, significant swelling, and bruising are common symptoms. Functionality of the joint may be severely limited, and it may not be possible to fully support the weight of the affected limb.

Causes

Contusion of the hip joint can be caused by various causes:

• Injury or blow: A blow to the hip joint, such as from a fall on the thigh or a hard blow, can cause bruising.
• Sports Injuries: During sports activities, especially contact sports such as football, hockey or rugby, hip injuries can result from collisions, falls or improper movement.
• Automobile accidents: In automobile accidents, strong blows and injuries can lead to bruising of the hip joint.
• Fall from a height: A fall from a considerable height can result in bruising of the hip joint due to the violent impact of the fall.
• Overload or repetitive motion: Prolonged overload or repetitive motion of the hip joint, especially during sports or physical work, can lead to irritation and bruising.

Symptoms

Hip contusion symptoms can vary depending on the degree of injury and the individual. However, some common symptoms that can be seen with a bruised hip include:

• Pain: Feeling pain in the hip area is one of the most common symptoms of a bruise. The pain may be sharp, dull, or throbbing. It can occur during movement, stress on the joint, or even at rest.
• Edema: An injury to the hip joint can cause edema, which is swelling or swelling around the joint. This is due to inflammation and fluid accumulation in the injured area.
• Restriction of movement: Bruising of the hip joint can cause a feeling of stiffness and limitation of movement in the joint, which can make it difficult to walk, bend or extend the leg.
• Bruising and Bleeding: There may be bruising at or near the area of ​​injury, and bleeding that appears as blotches or purple spots on the skin.
• Unsteady or “weak” feeling in the leg: A bruised hip joint can cause the leg to feel unsteady or “weak” when trying to lean on the leg or move.

Which doctor treats a contusion of the hip

If you suspect a contusion of the hip, it is recommended to see an orthopedist for evaluation and diagnosis. The orthopedist will perform a physical examination and may order additional tests such as x-rays, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or computed tomography (CT) to get more information about the condition of the joint and surrounding tissues. Based on the results of the examination, the orthopedist will determine the degree of bruising and prescribe the appropriate treatment.

How a doctor diagnoses a contusion of the hip joint

During an orthopedic examination, the doctor will perform a movement test of the hip joint and assess the degree of swelling. If an injury is suspected, an orthopedic traumatologist will prescribe:

• X-ray of the hip joint
• computed tomography of the hip joint
• magnetic resonance imaging of the hip joint.

How a doctor treats a hip injury

Treatment for a contusion of the hip depends on the extent of the injury and associated symptoms. It usually includes conservative methods and physiotherapy:

Rest and restriction of activity: When the hip joint is bruised, it is important to give the joint time to heal. The doctor may recommend limiting physical activity, using crutches or other aids to unload the joint.

Applying Cold: Cold compresses or ice packs can help reduce swelling and inflammation in the bruised area. This should be done within the first 48-72 hours after injury.

Anti-inflammatory drugs: Your doctor may prescribe anti-inflammatory drugs, such as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), to relieve pain and inflammation.

Physiotherapy: Physiotherapy plays an important role in restoring the function of the hip joint. A physical therapist can perform exercises to strengthen muscles, improve flexibility, and restore normal joint movement.

Rehabilitation and Recovery: Your doctor can develop a personalized rehabilitation program that includes exercises, stretching, massage, and other methods to restore full hip function.

Possible surgery: In rare cases, when a contusion of the hip joint is accompanied by serious damage to the structures of the joint, surgery may be required. The decision on the need for surgery will be made by the doctor after a thorough assessment.

Prevention

The following precautions are recommended to prevent hip bruising:

Muscle Strengthening: Regular exercise to strengthen the hip muscles can help improve hip stability and protect against injury. Include in your training program exercises to strengthen the gluteal, femoral muscles.

Stretching and Flexibility: Regular stretching of the hip muscles helps to improve flexibility and prevent muscle strain, which can contribute to bruising. Incorporate stretching into your workout routine and after physical activity.

Avoid risky activities: When playing sports or physical activity, follow the safety rules. Avoid sudden movements that can damage the joint and use protective equipment if necessary.

Maintain a healthy weight: Being overweight can put extra stress on the hip joint and increase the risk of injury. Maintain a healthy lifestyle with a balanced diet and regular physical activity to control your weight.

Avoid overload: Avoid prolonged and intense use of the hip joint, especially during repetitive movements or unaccustomed physical activity. Give your joint time to recover and rest as needed.

Wear the right shoes: When playing sports or physical activity, wear specialized shoes that provide good cushioning and support for the hip joint.

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Scientific sources:

1. Trebushenkov A.Yu. Radiation diagnosis of lesions of the musculoskeletal system (based on the materials of the European Congress of Radiologists 2004) // Radiology-practice. – 2005. No. 1. P.41-44.
2. Kosinskaya N.S. Degenerative-dystrophic lesions of the osteoarticular apparatus. L .: Medgiz, 1961. – 62 p.
3. Bryukhanov AV Vasiliev A. Yu. Magnetic resonance imaging in osteology // ed. Medicine, Moscow 2006 200 Page
4. Mikhailov M K Differential X-ray diagnostics of diseases of bones and joints / M. K. Mikhailov. G.I. Volodin. E.K Laryukova. Kazan, Tatar book. nzd-vo, 1988. – 168 p.
5. Zubarev A.V., Gazhonova V.E., Dolgova I.V. Ultrasonic diagnostics in traumatology. Practical guide. M.: OOO Firma STROM, 2003. 176 p.

Useful information

Pain in the hip joint when walking

What should be done to diagnose and treat hip pain? To solve this problem, the first step for the patient is to make an appointment with an orthopedist. After the initial examination, the doctor may prescribe additional studies:

MRI of the hip joints
CT scan of the pelvis.

read more +

Hip injuries

What should be done to diagnose and treat hip injuries? To solve this problem, the first step for the patient is to make an appointment with an orthopedist. After the initial examination, the doctor may prescribe additional studies:

MRI of the hip joint
CT scan of the hip joint.

read more +

CT scan of the hip joints

CT of the hip joints is one of the most popular diagnostic techniques in traumatology and orthopedics.