The hip cold results in pain in the hip, thigh, or even knee, of varying intensity depending on the case. This sudden pain can have a strong impact on your daily life and make walking difficult. But it disappears after about ten days. A viral infection is often the cause. Update on hip cold, its causes, symptoms and treatments.
1. Hip cold or transient acute synovitis: what is it?
The hip joint connects your pelvis to your lower extremities. It brings the head of the femur into contact with the joint cavity of the pelvis and thus allows you to walk. Hip cold, also called transient acute synovitis, refers to a mild inflammation of the hip joint. More specifically, inflammation of the internal membrane that covers the hip. Hip cold therefore results from the presence of excessive synovial fluid in the joint. If synovial fluid, secreted by the synovial membrane, is essential to lubricate the joint and thus protect your bones and cartilage from wear, its presence in excess is problematic. This synovial effusion is the manifestation of an attack, which must be identified in order to treat it. This hip cold causes lameness and motor difficulties. But the cause is generally not serious. Hip colds are often encountered in boys aged 3 to 10 years: 2 cases out of 1,000 children each year are diagnosed with a hip cold, 70% of whom are boys. according to the journal Medicine & Childhood. This pathology is rarer in adults.
2. Causes of hip colds
The causes of hip colds have not all been identified to date. However, specialists have noted that it is a rather seasonal condition, encountered mainly in autumn and winter. It would follow a viral infection of ENT origin such as nasopharyngitis, or a viral infection of digestive origin, such as gastroenteritis. Microtrauma to the hip joint can also, in rarer cases, lead to a hip cold.
3. Symptoms of acute transient synovitis
Several symptoms can accompany a hip cold. They appear suddenly and generally last around ten days. Among the symptoms observed, we find:
- Pain: often sudden, of varying intensity depending on the person, the pain is localized at the front of the hip. It can radiate into the thigh and knee.
- Lameness: pain makes it difficult to support the hip and leg. A more analgesic position is sometimes found by moving on tiptoe. The approach is limping.
- Restricted range of motion: You may have difficulty lifting your leg, spreading it (abduction), or rotating with your impacted leg because your hip is stiff.
- Mild fever may be present in rare cases and should lead you to consult your doctor to rule out other possible causes.
4. Treatments for hip colds
The hip cold is a benign, transient condition. It heals spontaneously in around ten days, without leaving any after-effects in the majority of cases. But recovery can take up to 3 weeks in some patients. Hip colds are diagnosed based on a clinical examination and of an ultrasound highlighting the synovial effusion. This involves ruling out pathologies with similar symptoms, such as septic arthritis or osteomyelitis for example. Once your doctor diagnoses you with a hip cold, you are offered treatment, which includes medication and rest. The goal of treatment is to relieve your painful symptoms. The medications prescribed are analgesics such as paracetamol and, sometimes, non-steroidal anti-inflammatories such as ibuprofen.
Resting the hip joint for several days, while lying in bed or sitting in an armchair, is also important. If the pain is severe, hip traction may be necessary. It is carried out bedridden, in a hospital environment. When you start walking again, you may need to use crutches. Finally, ice can relieve your pain, as cold has analgesic properties: place ice packs wrapped in a cloth on your hip joint for around fifteen minutes, 3 or 4 times a day. As for resuming sporting activity, you are advised to wait for complete recovery. Finally, relapses of hip colds are possible, whether on the same hip or on the other hip.
Sources
- Hip cold, French Society of Pediatric Orthopedics, 2020
- Hip cold: how far should we go in additional examinations?, Medicine & Childhood magazine, October 2011
- Hip cold, Santé sur le Net, January 21, 2019