Surgical interventions in hip and pelvis injuries

Diagnosing the cause of hip pain in the athlete can be difficult, but it almost always can be accomplished with an understanding of local anatomy combined with a thorough history and physical examination. For most causes of athletic hip pain, the patient should be given a sustained trial of nonoperative treatment before surgery is considered. Femoral neck fractures and hip dislocations in the athlete require emergency treatment. Thoughtful imaging of the hip or pelvis is an important diagnostic tool that can distinguish tendon strain from avulsion, help diagnose osteitis pubis, and evaluate for tumor as a cause for pain. Adolescents with hip abnormalities commonly present themselves with knee pain. Adolescents with knee pain should have their hips evaluated.