| Bone: Iliac Crest | |
|---|---|
| Overview of Ilium as largest bone of the pelvis. | |
| Latin | os ilii |
| Gray's | subject #57 236 |
| MeSH | Ilium |
A hip pointer is a contusion (bruise) on the pelvis caused by a direct blow to an iliac crest or hip bone. Contact sports are a frequent cause of this type of injury. The pain involved is due to the cluneal nerve that runs right along the Iliac Crest.
A hip pointer bruise usually causes bleeding into the hip abductor muscles, which move legs sideways, away from the midline of the body. This bleeding into muscle tissue creates swelling and makes leg movement painful. This injury usually lasts from one to six weeks, depending on the damage. X-rays will help to determine the damage done to the iliac crest.