Non–Groin-Related Injuries of the Hip in Athletes

Purpose or Learning Objective: To review the relevant anatomy, the pathologies causing hip pain in the sport population, and the related radiologic findings. Groin pain in athletes (pubalgia/sports hernia), also a possible cause of hip pain, is considered a distinct entity and not described in this study.

Methods or Background: Hip pain is a common complaint in athletes and can be related to multiple causes. Unspecific symptoms and a poor clinical examination of the hip obliges the sport physician to rely on the radiologist and imaging findings to manage these patients. Radiologists should be familiar with the different pathologies and the best imaging modality to reach the proper diagnosis, and thus they play an important role in the assessment and management of hip injuries.

Results or Findings: Hip pain injuries can be acute or chronic and are divided into intra-articular and extra-articular disorders. In the intra-articular disorders, we describe labral tears, femoroacetabular impingement syndrome, chondral injuries, and ligamentum teres pathologies. In the extra-articular disorders causing hip pain, we review muscle and tendon injuries around the joint, bone disorders, mainly bone stress injuries, and apophyseal diseases. Extra-articular hip impingements and snapping syndromes are also described. Finally, the trochanteric disorders are included because they are responsible for lateral hip pain.

Conclusion: Knowledge of the different pathologies around the hip and their radiologic correlation is crucial to assess accurately the diagnosis of hip pain in sport athletes. Any misdiagnosis can lead to a delayed return to play or even a worsening of the disease.

Publication History

Article published online:
26 May 2023