A hip dislocation in adults is always the result of an injury. It is a very painful and embarrassing ailment, requiring first aid and quick medical intervention.

Hip jointsHip joints are the largest and most strongly built joints in the human body. They are compact, reinforced with a solid joint capsule and strong ligaments. The head of the hip joint is the spherical head of the femur, which is embedded in the socket of the hip joint formed in the pelvic bone. The function of the hip joint is to transfer the weight of the torso onto the legs while walking.

Who is at risk of hip dislocation

The hip joint, due to its design, is less susceptible to injuries than others, but sometimes it dislocates. Only serioustrauma , caused by the action of great force, can damage the joint in this way. Hip dislocations are most often the result of traffic accidents or accidents at work (falling from a ladder, scaffolding) or injuries during sports. In the latter case - due to possible very dynamic falls and the action of great forces - the most vulnerable to this type of damage are skiers, snowboarders and climbers.

A hip dislocation hurts and prevents you from walking

Under the influence of the great force on the limb, the head of the femur slides out of the acetabulum and loses contact with it. It most often (in 90% of cases) travels backwards. It is then impossible to move the leg, and all attempts cause very strongpain . It is accompanied by a rapidly progressing swelling, often an extensive hematoma appears. Nerve damage can also be damaged during an injury, resulting in weak or no feeling in the foot. Damage to the blood vessels may cause insufficient blood supply to the entire limb or haemorrhage. The impact may also peel off small pieces of bone.

Diagnosis and treatment of hip dislocation

A hip dislocation requires first aid, followed by immediate medical attention. The injured person should not be moved, or in any case - as little as possible. You need to immobilize and stiffen the dislocated hip joint in order not to provide the injured person with additional unnecessarysuffering and not cause any further displacement of the femoral head. The sick person should be transported lying down (it is best to call an ambulance). Failure to intervene quickly may cause serious damage to blood vessels, and even necrosis of the femoral head.
Medical diagnosis is preceded by x-ray, less often by an ultrasound examination. They are necessary to determine whether, apart from bone dislocation, no other damage (bone chippings, fractures, etc.) has arisen and whether the joint capsule or tendons have not been torn.
Treatment consists in setting the joint as quickly as possible, i.e. inserting the bone head into its place - into the acetabulum. In general, it is possible to align the joint without surgery, although it may be necessary in complex injuries. The procedure (traditional or operative) is generally performed under general anesthesia. After the joint is in place, the patient must lie with the leg on the leg for two to three weeks. Rehabilitation takes the next two or three months, leading to the restoration of the hip's previous fitness. Hip dislocation, especially repeated or unhealed injuries of this type, may in the future be the cause of osteoarthritis of the hip (coxarthrosis).

Important

Hip dislocation can also be a congenital condition - we are talking about hip dysplasia. It affects three out of every thousand children born, mostly girls (80% of cases). The lesion is the abnormal structure of the acetabulum, which causes instability and skipping of the femoral head. Treatment of dysplasia focuses on putting on a child in the first months of his life with special harnesses, braces and stay stays, which are designed to stabilize the hip joints in the desired position. Surgery is only occasionally needed.