What condition are high lumbar L1-L2 injuries at high risk for, and what is the cause?

What condition are high lumbar L1-L2 injuries at high risk for, and what is the cause?

• A. Hip subluxation and/or dislocation
• B. Knee ligament injury
• C. Lumbar radiculopathy
• D. Ankle instability

Answer: (A)

High lumbar L1–L2 injuries often disrupt the nerves that control the hip abductors, especially the gluteus medius and minimus. Without strong abductors, the femoral head isn’t held securely in the acetabulum during weight-bearing, so the joint becomes unstable and is at risk for hip subluxation or dislocation. This instability is a common consequence in higher-level spinal lesions or spina bifida, where muscle balance around the hip is lost. The other options don’t fit because they aren’t directly caused by loss of hip abductor strength at this level of injury.

High lumbar L1–L2 injuries often disrupt the nerves that control the hip abductors, especially the gluteus medius and minimus. Without strong abductors, the femoral head isn’t held securely in the acetabulum during weight-bearing, so the joint becomes unstable and is at risk for hip subluxation or dislocation. This instability is a common consequence in higher-level spinal lesions or spina bifida, where muscle balance around the hip is lost. The other options don’t fit because they aren’t directly caused by loss of hip abductor strength at this level of injury.