subject: What Causes Hip Stress Fractures? [print this page] Hip stress fractures are a serious injury to the hip joints and pelvis, and are usually classed as overuse injuries. This means that when exercise is taken and it is overdone, these bone injuries are more likely to occur.
Stress fractures are characterized as a break in the continuity of bone, and can occur singularly or in multiples, and while they are less severe than full fractures or breaks, they can still be highly painful and a serious problem.
Hip stress fractures are most commonly associated with repetitive stress rather than a single trauma, and are more common in women than men, as women tend to have lower density bones and are more likely to suffer from osteoporosis. Hip stress fractures often develop on the hip joint - specifically on the ball of the joint. Hip joint injuries such as fractures causes significant pain and reduction in the range of motion of the hip joint.
Hip stress fractures can be caused by various factors, although the most common causes are listed below:
High energy injury
High energy injury may be caused by an excessive force that is absorbed by the hips. This may be in the form of sports injuries, car accidents, or falls, although any sharp sudden shock acting on the hip joints or pelvis can cause this type of bone injury.
Pathological damage
Hip stress fractures may occur as a result of underlying diseases, which include bone infections, bone tumors or osteoporosis. In each of these conditions the density of bone decreases. Weak or brittle bones mean that even relatively minor forces can cause cracks to form in bones.
Stress-related injuries
Stress injuries cause hip stress fractures because of the repetitive small traumas experienced by the hip joints The muscles normally absorb the shocks during activities and are able to spread the forces to prevent them from acting on the bones to a large extent. However, when there is muscle weakness or atrophy or even when the muscles become fatigued, the muscles are not able to absorb and diffuse the forces and the joints and bones have to take more of that force. Stress injuries are often a result of overuse, although poor bone alignment, muscle defects, and being overweight can reduce the time frame in which muscle fatigue usually sets in.
Symptoms of Hip Stress Fractures
Symptoms of a stress fracture in the hips may include:
Pain in the groin area aggravated by activity
Swelling around the hip joint
Limited range of motion of the affected hip
Cold, clammy skin on areas distal to the fracture such as the legs
Redness of the skin around the fracture
The diagnosis of hip stress fracture often involves radiographs or X-rays. The problem is that since these fractures are usually tiny, they may not actually show up on an x-ray, and it is usually only after healing has started that they will become visible. CT or MRI scans are the best way to detect hip stress fractures; however the cost of these tests usually does not warrant them to be used and a diagnosis is often inferred, or arrived at by a process of elimination.
Treatment of Hip Stress Fractures
Treatment of hip stress fractures may involve medical as well as surgical management depending on the severity of the condition, location of the fractures and the number of fractures which have developed. Rest is the most common treatment alongside immobilization. Rest prevents further trauma to the area, and immobilization of the hip joint prevents accidental aggravation of the fracture.
Pain medication can be taken to keep discomfort to a minimum and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications are usually the best choice. Canes and crutches can be used to prevent too much stress being placed on the hips when walking, although the hips cannot be immobilized with a plaster cast.
