Topic Overview
A hip injury can be hard to deal with, both for the child who has the
injury and for the parent or caregiver. A child who has a hip injury may feel
pain in the hip, groin, thigh, or knee. A child in pain may limp or be unable
or unwilling to stand, walk, or move the injured hip. A baby in pain may cry,
be fussy, and have other
signs of pain.
To better understand hip
injuries, it may be helpful to know how the
hip works. It is the largest ball-and-socket joint in
the body. The thighbone (femur) fits tightly into a cup-shaped socket
(acetabulum) in the pelvis. The hip joint is tighter and more stable than the
shoulder joint but it does not move as freely. The hip joint is held together
by muscles in the buttock, groin, and spine; tendons; ligaments; and a joint
capsule. Several fluid-filled sacs (bursae) cushion and lubricate the hip joint
and let the tendons and muscles glide and move smoothly. The largest nerve in
the body (sciatic nerve) passes through the pelvis into the leg.
Hip injuries
A sudden (acute) injury may occur from a
fall on a hip, a direct blow to a hip or knee, or abnormal twisting or bending
of the leg. Acute injuries include:
- Muscle strain in the hip, groin, or
buttock.
- Bruising (contusion) of the hip muscles (hip pointer).
Deep muscle bruising may occur with other injuries to the hip. Tenderness and
muscle spasm may also be present.
- Dislocated hip,
hip fracture, or
pelvic fracture. Dislocations and fractures of the hips and pelvis are not
often seen in children unless a severe injury (such as a car accident) has
occurred.
- Avulsion fracture. This occurs when a
muscle forcibly tears away from a bone and breaks a piece of bone.
Treatment for a hip injury depends on the location, type,
and severity of the injury as well as the child's age, general health, and
activity level. Treatment may include first aid measures; application of a
brace, cast, harness, or traction; physical therapy;
medicines; or surgery.
Check your child's symptoms to
decide if and when your child should see a doctor.
Check Your Symptoms
Home Treatment
Home treatment may help relieve
your child's hip pain, swelling, and stiffness. If your child will cooperate,
use the following tips. If your child becomes upset or will not cooperate, do
not force your child.
- Rest. Have your child rest and protect the sore
hip. Have your child stop, change, or take a break from any activity that may
be causing pain or soreness.
- Ice will help your child's pain and
swelling. Put
ice or cold packs on the sore area immediately. Put ice on for 20 minutes
out of every hour and do this 4 or more times in the first 1 to 2 days. If your
child is cooperative, use the ice often. If your child is not cooperative, use
the ice as much as you can without struggling with your child. Wrap the ice in
a wet towel. Do not put the ice right on the skin. Take the ice off if your
child falls asleep.
- Place your child on the uninjured side for
sleep.
- Gently massage or rub your child's hip to relieve pain and
encourage blood flow.
- For the first 1 to 2 days after an injury, do
not let your child do things that may increase swelling, such as taking hot
showers, using hot tubs, or using hot packs.
- After 2 to 3 days, if the
swelling is gone,
heat can be put on the hip. Your child can carefully
begin normal activities. Moist heat with a hot water bottle, warm towel, or a
heating pad set on low may feel good to your child.
Medicine you can buy without a prescription| Try a nonprescription
medicine to help treat your child's fever or pain: |
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Talk to your child's doctor before switching back and
forth between doses of acetaminophen and ibuprofen. When you switch between two
medicines, there is a chance your child will get too much medicine. |
Safety tips| Be sure to follow these
safety tips when you use a nonprescription medicine: |
|---|
- Carefully read and follow all labels on
the medicine bottle and box.
- Give, but do not exceed, the maximum
recommended doses.
- Do not give your child a medicine if he or she
has had an
allergic reaction to it in the past.
- Do not give aspirin to anyone younger than age 20 unless directed to do so
by your child's doctor.
- Do not give naproxen (such as Aleve) to children younger than age 12 unless your child's
doctor tells you to.
|
Cast care tips
If your child has a cast, see
cast care tips.
Symptoms to watch for during home treatment
Call your child's doctor if any of the following occur during home
treatment:
- Pain or swelling develops.
- Signs of infection develop.
- Numbness,
tingling, or weakness develops.
- Pale, white, blue, or cold skin
develops.
- Your child does not want to bear weight on the side of the hip injury.
- Symptoms do not get better with home
treatment.
- Symptoms become more severe or more frequent.
Prevention
The following tips may prevent the chance
of hip injuries.
- Always be gentle with your child. Do not grab
your child by his or her legs.
- Be aware of your child's chance of
falling, and take
steps to prevent falls.
- Never leave a baby unattended in high
places, such as on a tabletop, in a crib with the sides down, or even on a bed
or sofa.
- Do not leave a baby unattended in any infant seat or
"sitting" toy, such as a swing, walker, saucer, or jumper. Use all the safety
straps provided.
Establish good safety habits early so that your child will
continue them when he or she is older.
- Place children in an approved
child car seat when riding in a motor vehicle. Follow
the manufacturer's directions for installing and securing the
seat.
- Have older children wear seat belts every time they are in a
motor vehicle. Set a good example by always using your seat belt when traveling
in a motor vehicle.
- Have your child wear protective gear when
playing contact sports such as football or hockey.
Injuries may occasionally be a sign of
abuse. You may be able to prevent further abuse by
reporting it and seeking help.
Preparing For Your Appointment
To prepare for your appointment, see the topic Making the Most of Your Appointment.
You can help your
doctor diagnose and treat your child's condition by being prepared
to answer the following questions:
- What are your child's main symptoms? How long has
your child had symptoms?
- How and when did an injury
occur?
- Has your child had any injuries in the past to the same
area? Does your child have any continuing problems because of the previous
injury?
- Does your child limp or complain about pain when he or she
walks? Where is the pain felt? How far can your child walk without discomfort?
Does the pain get better or worse as he or she continues to
walk?
- What activities make your child's symptoms better or worse?
- What activities is your child involved with? Has your child
recently started a new activity?
- What home treatment measures have
you tried? Did they help?
- What prescription or nonprescription
medicines has the child taken? Did they help?
- Does your child have
any
health risks that may increase the seriousness of his
or her hip symptoms?
Credits
| By | Healthwise Staff |
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| Primary Medical Reviewer | William H. Blahd, Jr., MD, FACEP - Emergency Medicine |
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| Specialist Medical Reviewer | H. Michael O'Connor, MD - Emergency Medicine |
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| Last Revised | July 30, 2012 |
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