Introduction
What is a hip abductor?
Hip abductors are major groups of muscles found in the buttocks. Abductors include the gluteus maximus, medius and minimus. Hip abductors are the muscles that allow the hip to rotate out to the side of the body. These important muscles work together to stabilize the pelvis with motion and weight bearing. They make walking, running and jumping possible by stabilizing the joint and allowing full leg motion. If the hip abductors weaken or become torn, the hip will shift more from side to side, causing additional pain, loss of strength and loss of range of motion.
What is a hip abductor tear?
Hip abductor injury or tears are a common cause of Greater Trochanteric Pain Syndrome (GTPS). Abductor tears can range from partial to complete tendon rupture. Often caused by the ageing process, abductor tears can be related to other hip conditions such as iliotibial (IT) band syndrome, hip bursitis (also called trochanteric bursitis) or osteoarthritis. Hip abductor tears can also occur in athletes, particularly runners, sprinters or those who participate in jumping sports. A hip abductor tear can also occur from blunt force trauma, such as a football tackle, traumatic fall, or a motor vehicle collision. In extreme cases, the abductor tendon can be torn away from its attachment site on the femur. The most susceptible tendons are the gluteus medius and gluteus minimus, because of their location on the hip. Hip abductor tear specialist, Doctor Frank McCormick has extensive experience in treating hip abductor tears for patients in Orlando, Kissimmee, West Palm Beach County, Florida and the surrounding areas.
What are common symptoms of hip abductor tears?
Tears of the abductor tendons can go unnoticed if they are slight and aren’t accompanied by painful symptoms. The most common symptom of hip abductor tears is pain or tenderness located on the outside of the hip (lateral aspect). Pain may worsen with activity such as running, climbing stairs or sitting for a prolonged period of time. Other symptoms can include:
- Deep pain or throbbing in the hip or buttocks
- Lower back pain
- Limited range of motion
- Limping, or a change in normal gait
- Inability to bear weight on the affected hip
- Trendelenburg’s sign: when the body compensates the inability to bear weight on the injured side, causing the pelvis to drop toward the uninjured side.
How are hip abductor tears or injuries diagnosed?
Diagnosing symptomatic abductor tears can be tricky, especially since other hip problems may also be occurring. Abductor tears can overlap with other problems and other hip disorders or joint problems. Dr. McCormick will most often be able to visualize tendon problems from an MRI study or from an ultrasound. He will also obtain a complete patient history and perform a physical examination of the hip to confirm his diagnosis. It is important to see a specialist, trained in the many possible hip disorders to obtain a proper diagnosis and treatment plan.
What is the treatment for hip abductor tears?
Non-surgical treatment:
Small hip abductor tears, where the tendon remains attached, but may be inflamed can be treated non-surgically. Dr. McCormick may recommend non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) to reduce pain as well as rest and ice. Hip injections may also be recommended in certain situations. Most importantly, physical therapy will be recommended to rehabilitate the hip properly and to restore strength and range of motion.
Surgical treatment:
If there is a complete tendon rupture or tear, or if non-surgical treatment measures fail to eliminate pain and restore function, surgical intervention may be required to reattach or repair the tendon. Dr. McCormick will take into consideration the patient’s age, injury, level of activity and severity of the tear.
Dr. McCormick may recommend repair of the tendon at the attachment site. Recent advances in orthopedic surgery allow this procedure to be done endoscopically, which offers a minimally invasive technique that can ease recovery and improve outcomes. The endoscopic repair of the gluteus minimus or medius tendons is done in conjunction with the removal of any surrounding tissue that can become irritated or cause further pain. An IT band release may also be performed to help decrease pain associated with hip bursitis.
For more information on hip abductor injury or hip abductor tears, their symptoms or for expert diagnosis of your hip pain, please contact the office of Frank McCormick, MD, orthopedic shoulder specialist serving Orlando, Kissimmee, West Palm Beach County, Florida and the surrounding areas.
