The Unique Features of Pediatric Sports Injuries: The Hip

Abstract

Highlights What are the main findings? This narrative review summarizes the clinical presentation of apophyseal injuries, hip dislocation, coxa saltans, femoroacetabular impingement syndrome (FAIS), and stress fractures. Evidence-based diagnosis, management, and complications of these conditions are reviewed. What are the implications of the main findings? While apophyseal injuries, coxa saltans, and FAIS should be managed based on symptomatic presentation, hip dislocations and femoral neck stress fractures require timely diagnosis and reduction to prevent further complications. The musculoskeletal care provider should be an active member of the interdisciplinary team when assessing the pediatric athlete and determining appropriate management and return to sport. Abstract Sports-related injuries of the hip and groin have demonstrated increasing prevalence in pediatric and adolescent athletes. Pediatric injuries require specific consideration of unique factors such as skeletal maturity, apophyseal vulnerability, physeal closure status, and growth-related changes in injury pattern. These injuries include a variety of conditions, including apophyseal injuries, hip dislocations, coxa saltans (snapping hip), femoroacetabular impingement syndrome (FAIS), and stress fractures. Injuries such as hip dislocation and high-risk femoral neck stress fracture require urgent diagnosis and management; however, timely diagnosis and appropriate management is necessary for all pediatric hip injuries to prevent delays in return to sport and long-term complications. The literature synthesized in this narrative review includes randomized controlled trials, systematic reviews, prospective and retrospective studies, and consensus statements to provide a summary of each injury. An overview of pediatric sports injuries of the hip, with emphasis on the epidemiology, presentation, diagnosis, management, and complications, is presented.