Hip injuries in adolescents are more varied and complex than many people realize. They can range from acute injuries sustained during contact sports to chronic overuse injuries from high-impact activities, as well as pediatric hip conditions that become symptomatic during the late teenage years.
Common Hip Injuries in Adolescents Many hip injuries in teens affect the outside of the hip joint and include the following:
- Hip muscle strains or sprainsfrom sudden impact or overexertion
- Hip flexor tendonitis, which typically causes pain at the front of the hip
- IT band tendonitis, which produces pain along the side of the hip
- Sacroiliac joint pain, which often presents as lower back pain
- Piriformis injury, which causes pain at the back of the hip
Labral Tears, Hip Impingement, and Hip Dysplasia A hip labral tear — a tear in the ring of cartilage surrounding the hip socket — is one of the most common hip injuries in adolescents. It is frequently caused by an underlying structural condition such as hip impingement or hip dysplasia.
Hip impingement, also known as femoroacetabular impingement (FAI), occurs when there is a shape mismatch between the ball and socket of the hip joint. This causes abnormal contact between the bones during certain hip movements, leading to pain and progressive joint degeneration over time.
Hip dysplasia occurs when the hip socket is too shallow to fully support the femoral head. This leads to joint instability and an increased risk of dislocation, and over time can damage the labrum and accelerate cartilage wear.
Diagnosis Acute and traumatic hip injuries can often be identified through physical examination and standard imaging. Chronic overuse injuries, however, can be more challenging to diagnose and may require a detailed patient history combined with advanced imaging studies reviewed by an orthopedic hip specialist to reach an accurate diagnosis and treatment recommendation.
Treatment When a hip injury is severe or does not respond to conservative non-surgical care, advanced hip arthroscopic techniques offer an effective minimally invasive surgical option. These procedures can repair torn hip ligaments and tendons, reshape abnormal bone, and remove damaged tissue from the joint — all through small incisions that minimize recovery time and allow adolescents and active individuals to return to their normal activities with minimal delay.