Hip and groin injuries in top athletes

Abstract

As a major weight-bearing joint, normal hip function is crucial to favourable sporting participation being important in running, jumping and kicking based activities. Although athletic injuries of the hip and groin occur less commonly than injuries of the extremities, they represent a challenge for sports medicine practitioners because clinical assessment of the athletes is often difficult, because of the complex regional anatomy and of multiple differential diagnostic possibilities. Moreover, many of the soft tissue complaints in this area become chronic resulting in extensive rehabilitation time. The aim of this study was to examine the incidence of posttraumatic injuries of the hip and groin in athletes registered at Dinamo Sports Club between 2005-2007.
Methods: We have examined 109 posttraumatic hip and groin injuries (88 males and 21 female, aged between 8-35 years), representing 2,1% of all the medical exams. The athletes were assessed clinically and imagistically (X ray, ultrasound, CT scan and MRI).
Results: Most of the injuries involved the extra-articular soft tissue of the hip – 99 (90,8%) cases followed by a few cases of referred pain -9 (8,2%) cases (radiculopathyes and sacroiliac dysfunctions) and only one intraarticular problem, a pincer-type femoroacetabular impingement. The distribution on sports discipline placed on top handball (23 cases) and rugby (29 cases) followed by athletics (15 cases), basketball and water-polo (9 cases each), martial arts (5 cases), gymnastics and volleyball (4 cases each) and weight-lifting (2 cases).

Key words:

posttraumatic injuries, preventive training, athletic performance