Doctor's Notes on Hip Contusion
A hip contusion is an injury to the tissues around the hip joint caused by capillary breaks that allow blood into the hip joint tissues (a bruise). Signs and symptoms of a hip contusion are swelling within the muscles and tendons; the hip muscles may spasm and are painful to move. The bone and bursa may also be bruised so the structures can become inflamed and limited in their range of motion. The skin may be visibly bruised close to the joint.
The cause of a hip contusion is usually a blunt force that hits the area close to the hip joint (for example, a fall from a ladder, football injury, or auto accident).
What Are the Treatments for a Hip Contusion?
The treatment for a hip contusion is to follow the RICE method:
- Rest: Reduce stress (movement, weight bearing) on the contused hip.
- Ice: Apply an ice bag to the area for about 20 minutes every 4 hours.
- Compress: Use an elastic bandage to compress the contused hip.
- Elevate: Raise the bruised hip above the level of your heart as often as possible.
Too much stress on the hip while trying to heal can cause scar tissue to accumulate; minor contusions heal fast, but moderate to severe contusions take about 4-6 weeks to heal.
Pain : Test Your IQ of Pain Quiz

Medically speaking, the term "myalgia" refers to what type of pain?
See AnswerMust Read Articles:
-
Bursitis
Bursitis is inflammation of a bursa. A bursa is a tiny fluid-filled sac that functions as a gliding surface to reduce friction between tissues of the body. There are 160 bursae in the body. The major bursae are located adjacent to the tendons near the large joints, such as the shoulders, elbows, hips, and knees. -
Contusion vs. Hematoma
A hematoma is a collection of blood outside a blood vessel, and there are various type that range from minor (in the skin, for instance) to life threatening (in the brain). A contusion is a type of hematoma. The definition of a contusion is a bruise, which occurs when blood vessels are damaged or broken as the result of an injury. -
Hip Bursitis, a Patient's Story
Hip bursitis is inflammation of the tissues in the hip joint that can cause severe pain. This is one patient's story about how the hip bursitis was diagnosed and treated. -
Hip Pain
There are many causes of hip pain, such as arthritis, trauma, strains, sprains, and other conditions that cause referred hip pain. Hip pain can be sharp, sudden, gradual, or may come and go. Diagnosis and treatment of hip pain will depend upon the cause.
REFERENCE:
Kasper, D.L., et al., eds. Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine, 19th Ed. United States: McGraw-Hill Education, 2015.