Avascular necrosis (AVN): When the blood that goes to bone is disrupted, it may cause the bone to die. Some causes of AVN of the femoral head include a traumatic injury (dislocation/fracture), Legg-Calve-Perthes (LCP), and chronic steroid or alcohol use.
Bursitis: Sac-like pockets composed of fluid and connective tissue are found around many joints in the body. These bursae can form into scar bands later in life. They act to reduce friction between the bone and muscles in the hip joint. Bursitis may occur as a result of age, repetitive activities, trauma, or structural abnormalities.
Cartilage defects: The normal wear and tear of life may eventually damage the cartilage, the material that covers the surface of bones in healthy joints. When the cartilage softens or tears, it may cause pain, reduce available motion within the joint and limit function.
Acetabular Dysplasia: As the hip develops, the socket is too shallow and does not allow the femoral head to fit firmly in the joint. With reduced coverage over the top of the femur, increased stress is placed on the weight bearing portions of the bone.
Femoroacetabular impingement (FAI): During certain motions or activities, the bones of the hip joint collide with one another or cause pinching of the tissues around the joint. This may cause damage to the soft tissues such as the labrum (the cartilage around the socket of the joint), joint surface cartilage, and the bones themselves.
Gluteus medius tear: A tear in the muscle on the outside of the hip can limit leg movements away from the body. This can cause limping, reduced endurance, and difficulty standing up straight.
Hip instability: Bones, ligaments, muscles, and tendons work together to promote stability within the hip joint. Traumatic injuries, such as a motor vehicle accident or severe athletic injury (such as a dislocation) may cause persistent instability. It may also occur as a result of structural abnormalities and overuse of the hip over time.
IT band syndrome: The connective tissue band, known as the iliotibial band, extends from the pelvis to the outside of the knee. The syndrome can cause the band to become tight and painful, limiting some kinds of movement.
Labral tears: The labrum is a cartilage ring around the socket that seals the joint and provides stability. Separation, or tearing, of the labrum may cause pain, stiffness, catching or locking of the joint.
Loose bodies: Pieces of torn cartilage or bone may float around in the hip joint and cause locking or pain when they lodge between the ball and socket.
Piriformis syndrome: The piriformis is the muscle that contributes to rotation of the hip. When it becomes inflamed, it may compress the sciatic nerve, which runs from the low back down to the foot. This could result in shooting pain down the back of the leg.
Proximal hamstring tears: Minor sprains and strains of the hamstring are common athletic injuries. Full tears of the hamstring complex are rare injuries. When these occur, they can be quite debilitating. In addition, chronic partial tears of the hamstring can cause difficulty with strenuous physical activity or work tasks. Surgical repair may occasionally be necessary to re-attach the damaged portions of the hamstring complex back to the pelvis.
Snapping hip: This syndrome is commonly caused by tendons snapping over bones in the hip. The iliotibial band that travels from the pelvis to the knee can snap at the outside of the hip, irritating of the trochanteric bursa and muscles. Snapping can also occur at the front of the hip when there is inflammation surrounding the iliopsoas (hip flexor) tendon.
Athletic Pubalgia/"Sports Hernia": A soft tissue syndrome involving the central portion of the pelvis where irritation and imbalance of pelvic muscles occurs at the musculotendinous junction (the site where the muscle and tendon meet) or where the tendon attaches to the bone. Pain in the central pelvis or groin may be felt as a result of inflammation and/or tearing of the muscle, as well as irritation of surrounding nerves.
