The doctor leading the breakout discussion at the NSCAA National Coaches Convention 2017 talked about the increase in hip replacements he’s seen in young athletes.  I believe the most important takeaway from this session was the fact that Xrays cannot detect stress fractures (incomplete fractures) in the hip and high thigh bone.  These must be detected with a sonogram.

But an athlete will be taken first to an emergency room….and the Xray taken there will not show that stress fracture.  The athlete should sit out until he/she can play without pain, with strength and with a full range of motion.  A complete recovery can take two to three months.

If they play again before the bone has completely healed, the stress fracture could turn into a complete break.  If that happens, there is the chance that blood flow to the hip joint (ball and socket) will be cut off.  And that could bring about the death of the ball portion of the hip joint.  A complete hip replacement then becomes necessary  — it becomes the only remedy.