Hip Injuries
At Orthopaedic Sports Specialists, Dr. Alex G. Dukas and Dr. Christian A. Merrill provide personalized care for hip pain and injuries—from labral tears and hip impingement to tendon injuries and arthritis.
Hip pain can affect everything from sitting and walking to competing in sports. Our approach begins with identifying the source of your symptoms and developing a treatment plan around your condition, activity level, and goals. We prioritize nonsurgical treatment whenever appropriate, with expertise in hip arthroscopy, hip preservation, and joint replacement when surgery is needed.
Our Glastonbury office offers on-site X-ray, ultrasound, and physical therapy, allowing your evaluation and rehabilitation to take place in one coordinated setting.
Our Training & Expertise in Hip Care
Dr. Alex G. Dukas, MD Dr. Dukas completed his Orthopaedic Sports Medicine fellowship at the University of Utah the #1 Research funded orthopedic program in USA. His practice includes a particular focus on hip arthroscopy and preservation, including treatment of labral tears and femoroacetabular impingement (FAI). He also provides total hip replacement and care for sports injuries in adolescents and adults including hip arthroscopy, labral tear treatment, hip hamstring tendon repair, and hip replacement. His published research includes work on hip arthroscopy techniques.
Dr. Christian A. Merrill, MD/MBA Dr. Merrill completed his Orthopaedic Sports Medicine fellowship at the American Sports Medicine Institute with the Andrews Sports Medicine group in Birmingham, Alabama. His training included arthroscopic and minimally invasive treatment of hip injuries. His practice includes hip arthroscopy, labral tear treatment, hip abductor tendon repair, hip hamstring tendon repair, and hip replacement.
Common Hip Conditions We Treat
Hip Labral Tears
The labrum is a ring of cartilage surrounding the hip socket that helps maintain the joint’s seal and stability. Tears can cause groin pain, catching, clicking, or discomfort with twisting and prolonged sitting. Treatment depends on your symptoms, hip anatomy, and cartilage health, and may include physical therapy, injections, or arthroscopic surgery.
Hip Impingement—Femoroacetabular Impingement (FAI)
FAI occurs when the shape of the ball or socket causes abnormal contact during hip movement. This can contribute to labral and cartilage injury. Patients may notice groin pain with deep bending, squatting, pivoting, or sitting. When appropriate, arthroscopic treatment can address the labrum and reshape the bone contributing to impingement.
Hip Arthritis
Hip arthritis can cause pain, stiffness, reduced motion, and difficulty walking or putting on shoes and socks. We discuss treatment options ranging from exercise and physical therapy to medication, selected injections, and total hip replacement when symptoms substantially affect daily life.
Hamstring Tears
Hamstring injuries range from muscle strains to tears of the tendons attaching to the pelvis near the “sit bone.” Symptoms may include buttock or posterior thigh pain, bruising, weakness, and discomfort with sitting or running. Many injuries improve with targeted physical therapy, while selected complete or retracted tendon tears may benefit from surgical repair.
Snapping Hip & Hip Flexor Problems
A snapping or popping sensation may occur as a tendon moves across surrounding structures. Painless snapping often needs no treatment, while painful snapping or hip flexor irritation may improve with activity changes and targeted physical therapy.
Hip & Groin Muscle Injuries
Hip flexor, adductor, and hamstring injuries can affect athletes and active adults. We evaluate the location and severity of the injury and develop a rehabilitation plan to restore strength, mobility, and confidence before returning to activity.
Hip Dysplasia & Instability
A shallow hip socket or excessive joint looseness can contribute to pain, instability, and labral injury. Careful assessment of the underlying anatomy is essential because these conditions may require a different approach from routine hip arthroscopy.
What to Expect at Your Visit
Your visit begins with a discussion of your symptoms, activity demands, and prior treatment, followed by an examination of your hip and surrounding structures. We also consider whether symptoms may be coming from your lower back or another nearby area.
X-rays help assess joint shape, alignment, and arthritis. Depending on your examination, additional testing may include MRI, CT, or a diagnostic injection to help clarify the source of pain.
Your surgeon will explain the findings, discuss treatment options, and help you understand the next steps.
Treatment Options
Nonsurgical Care
Targeted physical therapy and strengthening
Activity modification and training adjustments
Medication when appropriate
Selected image-guided injections
Temporary use of crutches or other walking aids when indicated
Surgical Care
Hip arthroscopy
Labral repair or reconstruction when indicated
Treatment of cam and pincer impingement
Capsular repair or tightening in selected patients
Hamstring tendon repair
Total hip replacement
Hip arthroscopy uses a small camera and specialized instruments through small incisions to treat selected problems within the joint. Choosing the right procedure depends on more than an MRI finding—we consider your symptoms, examination, bone structure, cartilage condition, and response to prior treatment.
Before surgery, we review the procedure, risks, expected recovery, and rehabilitation plan with you.
Recovery & Physical Therapy
Our on-site physical therapy team works closely with our surgeons to guide recovery, from initial treatment through return to daily activities and sports.
After surgery, restrictions depend on the procedure performed. You may temporarily need crutches and limits on weight bearing or hip motion to protect healing tissue. Rehabilitation progresses through mobility, strength, balance, and activity-specific training.
Return to sport is individualized and depends on healing, strength, movement quality, and the demands of your sport.
Hip and groin injuries occur in athletes participating in:
Soccer
Hockey
Football
Basketball
Gymnastics and dance
Running
Golf and racquet sports
We also care for patients whose hip symptoms affect work, exercise, and everyday activities.
Common in These Sports
Frequently Asked Questions
Does a hip labral tear always need surgery? No. A labral tear seen on MRI does not automatically require surgery. Treatment depends on whether the tear explains your symptoms, the condition of the joint, and your response to nonsurgical care.
What is the difference between hip arthroscopy and hip replacement? Hip arthroscopy treats selected problems while preserving the natural joint, such as labral tears and impingement. Hip replacement replaces damaged joint surfaces and is generally considered for advanced arthritis or other substantial joint damage.
Can hip arthroscopy treat advanced arthritis? Hip arthroscopy generally provides less predictable benefit when substantial arthritis is present. Your surgeon will assess cartilage loss and joint-space narrowing to determine whether preservation treatment or hip replacement is more appropriate.
How long does recovery from hip arthroscopy take? Recovery depends on the procedure and your goals. Crutches are commonly needed initially, and rehabilitation progresses over several months. Running, cutting, and competitive sports require additional recovery and functional assessment.
When should I have hip pain evaluated? Schedule an evaluation if pain persists, affects walking or sleep, limits sports, or causes repeated catching or giving way. Sudden severe pain or an inability to bear weight after an injury warrants prompt assessment.