What is Hip Pointer?
The hip joint consists of the femur (thighbone) and pelvic bone, which is made up of the fusion of three bones – the ischium, pubis, and ilium. The femur has two boney prominences close to the hip joint – the greater and lesser trochanters. Hip pointer is an injury or bruise to the iliac crest (curved upper border of the ilium) or greater trochanter, or the surrounding muscles or tissues.
Causes of Hip Pointer
This type of injury is mainly caused due to a sudden blow or hit on the hip, which can occur from sports activities such as football, rugby, volleyball, basketball, cycling or skating.
Symptoms of Hip Pointer
The main symptoms of a hip pointer include:
- Bruising and swelling at the injured area
- Severe pain and tenderness during movement
- Difficulty in movement of the hip joint
- Weakness of the hip and legs
Diagnosis of Hip Pointer
This condition can be diagnosed by a physical examination of your hip joint and performing imaging tests such as X-rays and MRI to confirm the diagnosis and determine the exact position of the injury.
Treatments for Hip Pointer
A hip pointer can be treated with rest, applying ice packs immediately after the injury to reduce pain and inflammation, bandages to reduce the swelling, and by elevating your hip over a pillow. Your doctor may prescribe NSAIDs to help with the pain and inflammation. You may return to sports slowly after complete healing.
