Hip dislocation symptoms & treatment

Hip instability is a loose or wobbly hip joint that’s caused by problems with the ligaments (the bands of connective tissue that hold bones or joints together).

Hip dislocation occur swhen the ball at the end of the femur is pushed out of the socket. It may feel like your hip gives out suddenly followed by sharp and acute pain. Dislocation of the left or right hip requires immediate medical treatment.

An accident or injury can cause hip instability or hip dislocation. But in some cases, people are born with structural problems in the hip joint – called hip dysplasia – that may cause the hip joint to dislocate. If this is the case for you, doctors might identify dysplasia at birth, or it might not be noticeable until you’re older.

Expert answers for hip instability or dislocated hip

Whether your hip instability or hip dislocation is due to an accident, sports injury, or congenital condition, we have the expertise and experience to get you moving again.

Our orthopedic team offers:

• Expert treatment: Our team of more than 70 orthopedic and sports medicine doctors has years of experience and specialized training in joint care. That expertise means you can rely on us to find the cause of hip instability and recommend the right treatment for you.
• Minimally invasive treatment options: Our orthopedic surgeons offer hip arthroscopy – a minimally invasive procedure using small incisions – to tighten ligaments and stabilize the hip. Minimally invasive procedures cause less damage to your body than traditional surgery, leading to faster recoveries and a lower risk of infection after procedures. Learn more about minimally invasive arthroscopic surgery.
• Comprehensive care: You’ll find all the providers you need in our single, integrated health system. Here, our orthopedic specialists and sports medicine doctors work closely with primary care doctors and physical therapists to provide personalized treatment to help you move more comfortably and confidently.
• Convenient locations: With locations across eastern Wisconsin, you can find a doctor and physical therapist close to home.

When should you see a doctor for hip instability & hip dislocation?

You should see an orthopedic or sports medicine doctor if you:

• Hear snapping, clicking or popping sounds or sensations (crepitus) in any part of the hip
• Experience hip pain or pain in the groin
• Can’t put weight on your hip
• Can no longer walk normally

If not adequately treated, a hip dislocation can lead to serious complications including:

• Sciatic nerve injury and damage
• Tears in the ligament or soft tissues that lead to impaired range of motion
• Avascular necrosis, the death of tissue in a section of bone due to a lack of blood supply that is cut off by the dislocated joint
• Arthritis in the hip, resulting in pain, stiffness and the possibility of needing a total hip replacement in the future

After a potential hip dislocation, you should take it easy and contact your doctor.

Is your hip and knee pain cause for concern?

Hip and knee pain doesn’t have to interfere with your life. Our hip and knee pain quiz evaluates your knees and hips, gauges the severity of any issues and gives you an idea what to do next based on your results.

Take the hip and knee pain quiz

What causes hip instability & hip dislocation?

Some people are born with conditions that make hip problems more likely. Others experience athletic injuries or are involved in a high-energy accident, both of which can cause hip instability or hip dislocation.

The most common causes of hip instability include:

Injuries to ligaments in the hip joint

Ligaments in the hip joint may be stretched or otherwise damaged because of:

• Traumatic events, like motor vehicle collisions
• Rotational instability in dancers or athletes who use extreme ranges of motion

Hip dysplasia

Some people are born with hip dysplasia, in which the ball of the hip joint is loose in the socket. This hip instability may lead to the hip being dislocated.

Types of hip dysplasia include:

• Developmental dislocation (or dysplasia) of the hip (DDH), usually diagnosed at birth or within the first year
• Adult hip dysplasia, which may be identified when arthritis develops or when a person experiences a dislocated hip

Genetic syndromes

Genetic or inherited syndromes can affect body structures and make hip dysplasia or hip dislocation more likely. These include:

• Down syndrome, which causes looser ligaments and muscles
• Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, which causes loose or hyperextensible joints (joints that move beyond a normal range)

Types of hip dislocation

Your hip is a ball-and-socket joint. When your hip dislocates, the ball (head of the femur) moves forwards or backwards out of its socket, determining your type of dislocation. The type of dislocation also factors in the direction of movement seen in the dislocation force, including:

• Flexion: The bending of a joint
• Adduction: Moving in toward the midline of the body
• Abduction: Moving out away from the midline of the body

Your provider may use a flexion adduction and internal rotation movement test to help identify your type of dislocation and the best treatment plan for you.

Posterior or anterior hip dislocation

After a dislocation, the leg on the affected hip will look shortened and turned. Your knee and foot will either point outward (anterior dislocation) or inward (posterior dislocation).

• Anterior dislocation: Ball is forced forwards out of its socket (hip abducted and externally rotated away from the body)
• Posterior dislocation: Ball is forced backwards out of its socket (hip adducted and internally rotated toward the body)

Traumatic posterior hip dislocations are the most common type of hip dislocation, usually the result of a motor vehicle accident.

Fracture-dislocation

It’s common with anterior hip dislocation to have a fracture of the femoral head. Fracture-dislocations (central dislocation) are normally seen in side-impact collisions.

Partial hip dislocation (hip subluxation)

It’s possible to partially dislocate your hip (a subluxation). A partial hip dislocation can occur when the ball joint is not pushed all the way out of the socket.

Partially dislocated hip symptoms are similar to a total hip dislocation, but the pain may not be as severe. In mild cases, you might be able to walk and bear weight. Partial hip dislocation can be a chronic condition if you have hip dysplasia or a hip replacement.

What to expect at your doctor’s appointment

If you’re experiencing hip pain and instability, or seeing signs your hip is out of alignment, your doctor will perform a complete physical exam and discuss your possible hip dislocation symptoms and medical history.

To understand the cause of the hip instability and find the best treatment for you, your doctor may order tests including:

• X-rays: These images let your doctor see the fit and condition of bones in your hip joint. X-ray images also help your doctor check for a dislocated hip or other issues.
• Arthrogram: An arthrogram uses dye injected into the hip joint before X-rays or other scans. This dye helps your doctor clearly see details of the joint’s condition.
• CT scan: A CT scan provides images from many directions, which gives a more detailed view of the hip joint.
• MRI: MRI scans provide a good visual of the soft tissue in and surrounding the hip joint, including the ligaments.

Treatments for hip instability & hip dislocation

Our doctors will recommend a hip dislocation treatment plan based on the condition of your hip and your overall health. With each of their recommendations, they’ll focus on relieving pain and improving your hip’s function. Find out more about our treatments for hip pain.

Our doctors may suggest hip dislocation treatments such as:

• Rest or moderate exercise
• Physical therapy to strengthen the muscles around the hip and improve mobility
• Minimally invasive surgery – like arthroscopic hip surgery – to tighten the ligaments in the hip
• Hip preservation surgery for hip dysplasia – a procedure called PAO (periacetabular osteotomy) that reshapes the hip socket so you can avoid total hip replacement
• Total hip replacement surgery with an artificial hip joint to restore motion and stability