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Key Clinical Updates in Musculoskeletal Injuries of the Hip
There is an increase in atypical femoral fractures with bisphosphonate use (relative risk 1.7), especially patients of an Asian race in North America, patients with femoral bowing, and patients who had used glucocorticoids.
The most specific study findings to identify hip osteoarthritis include squat causing posterior pain, groin pain on passive abduction or adduction, abductor weakness, and decreased passive hip, or less passive internal rotation compared with the contralateral leg. The presence of normal passive hip adduction was most useful for suggesting the absence of osteoarthritis.
There has not been clear clinical benefit of minimally invasive hip replacement surgery compared to standard invasive surgery, except for less total blood loss, shorter duration of surgery, and a shorter length of stay.
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ESSENTIALS OF DIAGNOSIS
Internal rotation of the hip is the best provocative diagnostic maneuver.
Hip fractures should be surgically repaired as soon as possible (within 24 hours).
Delayed treatment of hip fractures in older adults leads to increased complications and mortality.
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General Considerations
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Approximately 4% of the 7.9 million fractures that occur each year in the United States are hip fractures. There is a high mortality rate among older adult patients following hip fracture, with death occurring in 8–9% within 30 days and in approximately 25–30% within 1 year. Osteoporosis, female sex, height greater than 5-feet 8-inches, and age over 50 years are risk factors for hip fracture. Hip fractures usually occur after a fall. High-velocity trauma is needed in younger patients. Stress fractures can occur in athletes or individuals with poor bone mineral density following repetitive loading activities.
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A. Symptoms and Signs
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Patients typically report pain in the groin, though pain radiating to the lateral hip, buttock, or knee can also commonly occur. If a displaced fracture is present, the patient will not be able to bear weight and the leg may be externally rotated. Gentle logrolling of the leg with the patient supine helps rule out a fracture. Examination of the hip demonstrates pain with deep palpation in the area of the femoral triangle (similar to palpating the femoral artery). Provided the patient can tolerate it, the clinician can, with the patient supine, flex the hip to 90 degrees with the knee flexed to 90 degrees. The leg can then be internally and externally rotated to assess the range of motion on both sides. Pain with internal rotation of the hip is the most sensitive test to identify intra-articular hip pathology. Hip flexion, extension, abduction, and adduction strength can be tested.
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Patients with hip stress fractures have less pain on physical examination than described previously but typically have pain with weight bearing. The Trendelenburg test can be performed to examine for weakness or instability of the hip abductors, primarily ...