A hip pointer is a

contusion A bruise, also known as a contusion, is a type of hematoma of tissue, the most common cause being capillaries damaged by trauma, causing localized bleeding that extravasates into the surrounding interstitial tissues. Most bruises occur close ...

on the pelvis caused by a direct blow or a bad fall at an

iliac crest The crest of the ilium (or iliac crest) is the superior border of the wing of ilium and the superiolateral margin of the greater pelvis. Structure The iliac crest stretches posteriorly from the anterior superior iliac spine (ASIS) to the posterior ...

and/or hip bone and a bruise of the abdominal muscles (transverse and oblique abdominal muscles). Surrounding structures such as the

tensor fasciae latae The tensor fasciae latae (or tensor fasciæ latæ or, formerly, tensor vaginae femoris) is a muscle of the thigh. Together with the gluteus maximus, it acts on the iliotibial band and is continuous with the iliotibial tract, which attaches to the ...

and the

greater trochanter The greater trochanter of the femur is a large, irregular, quadrilateral eminence and a part of the skeletal system. It is directed lateral and medially and slightly posterior. In the adult it is about 2–4 cm lower than the femoral head.Stan ...

may also be affected. The injury results from the crushing of soft tissue between a hard object and the iliac crest. Contact sports are a common cause of this type of injury, most often in football and hockey in general due to improper equipment and placement. The direct impact can cause an avulsion fracture where a portion of bone is removed by a muscle. The pain is due to the cluneal nerve that runs right along the iliac crest, which makes this a very debilitating injury. This pain can be felt when walking, laughing, coughing or even breathing deeply. A hip pointer bruise usually causes bleeding into the hip abductor muscles, which move legs sideways, away from the midline of the body. This bleeding into muscle tissue creates swelling and makes leg movement painful. The hematoma that occurs can potentially build on the femoral nerve or lateral cutaneous of the femur. This injury usually lasts from one to six weeks, depending on the damage. In most cases, patients recover completely. A full assessment should be undertaken to rule out the possibility of damage to abdominal organs.

Signs and symptoms

Signs and symptoms include immediate pain, bruising and swelling, obvious weakness, spasms and a rapid decline in the hip / leg function, resulting in a decreased range of motion.

Diagnosis

Management

Rest, Ice, Compression and Elevation (RICE) are standard treatments in the first 48 hours of an injury to the hip pointer. After 48 hours, patients can begin gently stretching, strengthening exercises, flexibility and coordination. For the first 7–10 days, patients can take anti-inflammatories such as

ibuprofen Ibuprofen is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) that is used for treating pain, fever, and inflammation. This includes painful menstrual periods, migraines, and rheumatoid arthritis. It may also be used to close a patent ductus arte ...

and apply ice. Since this injury is very painful, recovery is usually very slow. When the person is without pain, sports massage and range-of-motion activities may reduce tension and swelling and prevent scar tissue buildup. Furthermore, an injection of corticosteroids into the affected area may reduce symptoms in the short term and accelerate rehabilitation. Operative treatment is rarely indicated and is reserved for patients with significant displacement or fractures of the bones. To prevent hip pointer, the equipment must be adequate in the sport and be well positioned and good size. It should also maintain excellent flexibility, strength and endurance of the hip, pelvis and lower back muscles.

References

External links

Hip Pointer Homepage

Photo displaying the injury
{Dead link, date=May 2022 Injuries of abdomen, lower back, lumbar spine and pelvis Pelvis Sports medicine