Hip

Hip Anatomy

The hip joint is the largest weight-bearing joint in the human body. It is also referred to as a ball and socket joint and is surrounded by muscles, ligaments, and tendons. The thigh bone or femur and the pelvis join to form the hip joint.

Any injury or disease of the hip will adversely affect the joint's range of motion and ability to bear weight.

Conditions

Hip Injuries and Tears

Hip Pain

Hip pain, a common reason patients seek medical treatment, may not always be felt precisely over the hip joint.  Pain may be felt in and around the hip joint and the cause for pain is multifactorial. The exact location of your hip pain suggests the probable cause or underlying condition causing pain.

Snapping Hip

The hip is an important joint that helps us walk, run and jump. The ball-and-socket joint of the hip is formed between the round end of the femur (thigh bone) and the cup-shaped socket of the acetabulum (part of the pelvic bone). Joint stability in the hip region is achieved through the labrum (a cuff of strong fibrous cartilage), which covers the acetabulum and seals it,  ligaments (tissue connecting bone to bone) and tendons (tissue connecting muscle to bone) that encase the hip and control the hip movements.

Muscle Strains

A tear in the muscle fibers caused by either a fall or direct blow to the muscle, overstretching or overuse injury is called a strain. Muscle strains often occur in the hip region whenever a muscle contracts suddenly from its stretched position. Strains can be mild, moderate or severe depending on the level of injury.

Hip Bursitis

Hip bursitis is a painful condition caused by inflammation of the bursa of the hip. Bursae are fluid filled sacs present in joints between bone and soft tissue to reduce friction and provide cushioning during movement.

Femoroacetabular Impingement

Femoroacetabular impingement (FAI) is a condition where there is too much friction in the hip joint from bony irregularities causing pain and decreased range of hip motion. The femoral head and acetabulum rub against each other creating damage and pain in the hip joint.

Avascular Necrosis

Avascular necrosis (AVN), also called osteonecrosis, is a condition in which bone death occurs because of inadequate blood supply. Lack of blood flow may occur when there is a fracture in the bone or a joint dislocation that may damage nearby blood vessels.

Hip Fracture

The hip joint is a “ball and socket” joint.  The “ball” is the head of the femur, or thigh bone, and the “socket” is the cup shaped acetabulum.  The joint surface is covered by a smooth articular surface that allows pain free movement of the joint.

Gluteus Medius (Abductor) Tear

A gluteus medius tear is a condition characterized by severe strain on the gluteus medius muscle that results in partial or complete rupture of the muscle.

The gluteus medius is one of the major muscles of the hip and is essential for movement of the lower body and keeping the pelvis level during ambulation.

Hip Labral Tear

A hip labral tear is an injury to the labrum, the cartilage that surrounds the outside rim of your hip joint socket. The hip joint is a ball and socket joint in which the head of the femur is the ball and the pelvic acetabulum forms the socket. The labrum helps to deepen the socket and provide stability to the joint. It also acts as a cushion and enables smooth movements of the joint.

Hip Groin Disorders

Hip and groin disorders are more common in athletes, caused by rapid acceleration and deceleration motion.

The rehabilitation time for hip and groin injuries are longer than most other injuries, therefore early and accurate diagnosis is essential. The management of hip and groin injuries is complex due to the presence of multiple anatomic structures in that region.

Hip Tendonitis

Tendons are strong connective tissue structures that connect muscle to bone. Hip tendonitis is a condition associated with inflammation of the hip tendons. This condition is mainly caused due to strain on the tendons which may be due to overuse, or biomechanical problems.

Hip Arthritis

Osteoarthritis of the Hip

Osteoarthritis, also called degenerative joint disease, is the most common form of arthritis. It occurs most often in older people but is being diagnosed with increasing frequency in younger patients. This disease affects the tissue covering the ends of bones in a joint (cartilage). In a person with osteoarthritis, the cartilage becomes damaged and worn out causing pain, swelling, stiffness and restricted movement in the affected joint.

Inflammatory Arthritis of the Hip

Inflammation of the joints is referred to as arthritis. The inflammation arises when the smooth covering (cartilage) at the end surfaces of the bones wears away. In some cases, the inflammation is caused when the lining of the joint (synovium) becomes inflamed as part of an underlying systemic disease.

Procedures

Non-Surgical Treatments

Hip Injections

Hip joint injections involve injecting medication directly into the hip joint to diagnose the source of pain or treat pain due to conditions such as arthritis or labral tear.

Physical Therapy

Physical therapy is an exercise program that helps you to improve movement, relieve pain, encourage blood flow for faster healing, and restore your physical function and fitness level. The main aim of physical therapy is to make your daily activities, such as walking, getting in and out of bed, or climbing stairs, easier.

Surgical Treatment