Hip pain in a young adult

Case presentation

A 28-year-old woman of normal build presents with a five-year history of right groin pain that is exacerbated by sporting activity and long walks. The pain radiates down the inner thigh and occasionally she has knee pain. There are times when she feels that her hip ‘clicks’ during sport. Rest tends to relieve her symptoms.

On examination, she walks with a normal gait. The main positive clinical finding is pain on flexion, adduction and internal rotation of the right hip. The remainder of her examination is unremarkable.