A hip dislocation is a type of injury that occurs when the head of the femur--the long bone in your thigh--becomes completely displaced from the hip joint. This type of dislocation is most frequently caused by severe trauma due to a fall, car accident or sports injury. Hip dislocation symptoms are similar to hip fracture symptoms and require immediate medical intervention to prevent additional complications.
Pain
The most common hip dislocation symptom is severe, sudden, intense pain, according to the Mayo Clinic. When the head of the femur is separated from the hip socket, the muscles and tendons that surround this joint can also be damaged or torn. As a result, patients with this type of injury can experience prolonged sensations of sharp, achy pain that become worse if the joint is moved. These symptoms can persist for some time until the damaged tissue has been allowed to rest and heal completely.
Swelling
Joint damage due to a hip dislocation can cause fluid to accumulate at the site of injury. As a result, patients who experience this type of injury can develop swelling of the hip joint, explains the Merck Manual, an online medical encyclopedia for health and medical professionals. The skin that covers the hip joint can appear puffy or discolored and is typically tender to the touch. If blood vessels beneath the skin are damaged during the hip dislocation injury, patients can also develop bruising around the affected body region. Swelling gradually diminishes as the hip dislocation begins to heal.
Hip or Leg Deformity
The hip joint can visually appear deformed as a symptom of a hip dislocation, explains Aurora Health Care, a non-profit health care provider based in Milwaukee. The affected hip region may bulge abnormally or may appear misshapen. A patient who experiences a hip dislocation may notice that his legs appear to be different lengths as a result of this injury. These symptoms of hip dislocation are temporary and will resolve once the injury has healed.
Hip Immobility
Patients who develop a hip dislocation can experience difficulty moving the affected hip as a symptom of this injury, explains the Merck Manual. Symptoms of swelling and pain can interfere with the normal movement of the hip, making standing or walking on the affected limb quite challenging. Movement of the injured region is not advised, explain Mayo Clinic doctors, as this action may cause additional nerve, muscle or ligament damage.
