What are hip abductor tears?
Tendons are sturdy cords that connect bones to the body’s muscles. Abductors are strong muscles that allow the leg to move outward to the side. The hip’s abductor tendons enable the hip to open to the side. Pain from abductor tears can limit the mobility of the hip and cause severe pain that only worsens when left untreated.
What are the signs?
Common signs of hip abductor tears include the following:
- Weakness and pain in the hip
- Tenderness outside of the hip
- Pain radiating near the hip bone only exacerbates when jumping, walking, or initiating any other strenuous physical activity.
- Snapping emanating from the hip
- Hip stiffness
What are the causes?
Hip abductor tears are likely to occur as a result of joint overuse during high-impact sports that involve a lot of jumping. In addition, overuse of the tendon can lead to small tears in the tendon. Although the body tries to repair the tears naturally, these ruptures may occur faster than the body is able to treat. The more tears, the weaker the tendon becomes due to persistent pain and inflammation.
How does Dr du Toit treat hip abductor tears?
Treatment for hip abductor tears aims to relieve hip pain and prevent further injury to the joint. Dr du Toit will determine an appropriate treatment plan based on the severity of the hip abductor tear. If the condition is mild, your healthcare provider will recommend conservative treatment options such as pain medication, rest and ice.
However, if the condition is more severe, your orthopaedic surgeon will suggest physical therapy, steroid injections, and in some cases, surgery. For example, endoscopic hip abductor repair involves creating tiny incisions on the exterior of the hip where small surgical equipment is used to fix the damaged gluteus medius or tendon near the upper part of the femur located on the greater trochanter.