USA Today reported that Evan Lysacek, U.S.’ Olympic gold medal winner in men’s figure skating pulled out of the Sochi Games in 2014 due to a torn labrum in his left hip.
The report states, “After a series of serious injuries, including a torn labrum in his left hip, 2010 Olympic champion Evan Lysacek ended his dream of competing in his third Games on Tuesday. Lysacek said the pain in recent months was excruciating. If he continued training, he would risk serious and permanent damage, his doctors told him. “With a warning like that, I felt I had no choice,” Lysacek said.
Figure skating is a very physical sport, with hips and knees greatly affected.Other notable Olympians like Kimmie Meissner, Tara Lapinski and even Michelle Kwan have suffered through orthopedic injuries and sometimes ending their careers. Another Olympian, Brian Boitano was also quoted in the article stating,“Skaters are leaving the sport and getting hip and knee replacements. There are a lot more serious injuries compared to when I competed. It’s sad. We’re losing a lot of young skaters.”
A hip labral tear involves the ring of soft elastic tissue, called the labrum that follows the outside rim of the socket of your hip joint. The labrum acts like a socket to hold the ball at the top of your thighbone (femur) in place. Athletes who participate in such sports as ice hockey, soccer, football, golf and ballet are at higher risk of developing a hip labral tear. Structural abnormalities of the hip also can lead to a hip labral tear.
Symptoms include hip pain or a “catching” sensation in your hip joint. Initial treatment may include pain relievers and physical therapy. Using arthroscopic techniques, surgeons can remove loose fragments from within the joint and trim or repair the hip labral tear.Dr. Downer said the following of Evan’s injury, “I hope that this is not more than an isolated incident. Additional injury will have a negative impact on a successful recovery.”
If you would like more information on hip or knee replacements, call Orthopedic Specialists and make an appointment with one of our expert, orthopedic doctors at (206) 633-8100.