you or someone you know have a painful, swollen hip? Maybe you can tell that it is out of place. If so, this could signify a dislocated hip. It is important to learn how to recognize the symptoms of a dislocated hip so that treatment can be provided by an orthopedic surgeon if necessary.
What Is Dislocated Hip: Definition, Diagnosis, Symptoms, Causes & Treatments
Hip dislocations happen when the thigh bone’s femoral head gets pushed backward or forward. It is pushed out of the socket that was holding the hip in place. In addition to the dislocated hip, this can also lead to damage or injury to the muscles, nerves, ligaments, labrum, and various other soft tissues, as well. It is important to get the orthopedic treatment that is needed as quickly as possible if a hip dislocation has occurred.
Symptoms Of A Dislocated Hip
The majority of people who have a dislocated hip will experience severe body pain. They might not even be able to move the affected leg. When looking directly at that leg, it may look abnormal when comparing it to the other leg. In addition to these things, there are some other symptoms that might be noticed with a dislocated hip. Some of the additional symptoms that might be experienced include the following:
- Losing feeling in the ankle and/or foot area (this will generally happen if there has been damage to the nerves)
- Limping
- Pain in the groin area
- Extremely warm skin surrounding the hip
- Trouble laying on the affected hip
These are some of the numerous symptoms that someone might experience if they have a dislocated hip. If you or someone that you know is having these symptoms, you should be seen by an orthopedic surgeon as soon as possible.
Causes Of A Dislocated Hip
There are numerous causes of a dislocated hip that you should be aware of, as well. Some of the things that could cause someone to have a dislocated hip include the following:
Car Accidents
This is one of the most common reasons for a dislocated hip. The knees usually hit on the dashboard during the accident. The force of the collision causes the person’s thighs to move back so quickly that the femur’s head pops right out from the hip’s socket.
Falls
If someone falls from a ladder or from another place up higher, sometimes even off from a porch, they could dislocate their hip.
Contact Sports
Someone could dislocate their hip playing contact sports, as well. This could include hockey and football.
Other Sports
There are other sports that have a high risk of falling that could lead to hip dislocation. These sports might include gymnastics, snowboarding, and skiing.
Industrial Accidents
There are many people who have worked in industrial jobs who have dislocated their hip on the job. This could be due to a fall on the job or other accident while working, too.
Dislocated Hip Replacement Surgery
Sometimes, it is possible, for someone’s artificial joint to get dislocated after getting surgery for a hip replacement.
These are some of the most common causes of hip dislocation. If it seems that you or someone you know has dislocated your hip for any reason, reach out to an orthopedic office immediately to schedule an appointment with a doctor or surgeon. They can create a plan of action after seeing you.
Diagnosis Of A Dislocated Hip
Most of the time, an orthopedic surgeon can diagnose a hip dislocation based on a physical examination alone. The surgeon or doctor might see a deformity the moment they look at the patient’s hip. In addition, the way the hip is positioned during the appointment can be a sure sign of hip dislocation. However, even with the obvious hip deformity or positioning, the orthopedic surgeon will still order an x-ray to confirm the hip dislocation diagnosis.
In addition to the x-ray, the orthopedic surgeon will check for other issues such as injuries to the patient’s femoral artery, nerve damage, and check for other complications, as well. Depending on what all is diagnosed, the plan of action will be created to include everything the surgeon has found.
Treatments & Surgery For A Dislocated Hip
It is possible to successfully treat a hip dislocation without further complications occurring. Usually, if the patient comes to the orthopedic surgeon directly after or shortly after the injury, the chances of a successful treatment plan and recovery process is really good.
Sometimes the hip can be put back in place through manipulation under light sedation. This is known as a reduction. After this is done, the orthopedic surgeon will order another x-ray or CT scan to ensure the hip has been properly re-set.
If anything else has been damaged such as soft tissues or the labrum, other treatments might be needed, as well. In these instances, a hip arthroscopy might need to be performed. This procedure is minimally invasive. The surgeon will use a tiny camera to get a good view of your hip joint. They will then use instruments to make any necessary repairs.
For most patients, it will take 2 to 4 months for the recovery process after the hip dislocation treatments are completed. If there were more fractures or issues, the recovery process might take more time.
During the Dislocated Hip recovery process, it might be recommended to limit the motion of the hip for weeks. This will help to reduce the chances of dislocation of the hip again.
In many cases, physical therapy is needed to help aid in the recovery process. The patient might also need to use crutches, a cane, or a walker for some time during their recovery process, as well.
Conclusion:
If you or someone that you know is having any of the symptoms that were mentioned above, an appointment should be scheduled with an orthopedic office to get assessed for a dislocated hip. Our orthopedic surgeons at Great Lakes Orthopaedics can diagnose and treat hip dislocations.
This Information is not a professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. If you have any questions about a medical condition, consult your physician or other qualified healthcare provider.