# Hip osteoarthritis

> Citation bundle for Hip osteoarthritis on The Treatment Registry.
> URL: https://thetreatmentregistry.com/conditions/hip-osteoarthritis
> Bundle URL: https://thetreatmentregistry.com/api/citations/conditions/hip-osteoarthritis

## Description

Degenerative joint disease of the hip, characterised by progressive cartilage loss, joint-space narrowing, osteophyte formation, and pain. Symptoms typically include groin pain on weight-bearing, stiffness after rest, and progressive functional limitation. Treatment is staged from lifestyle and medical management through intra-articular injection and finally hip replacement for end-stage disease.

## Treatment ladder

### conservative

- **Weight management and physiotherapy** — First-line for all symptomatic patients. Each kilogram lost reduces hip load substantially; supervised exercise improves pain and function in early-to-moderate disease.
- **Analgesia (paracetamol, NSAIDs)** — Topical NSAIDs preferred for localised symptoms; systemic NSAIDs effective but with cardiovascular and gastrointestinal risk profiles to consider in older patients.
- **Walking aid (cane, walker)** — A cane held in the contralateral hand reduces hip load by approximately 25%. Often deferred by patients but a meaningful intervention.

### procedural

- **Intra-articular corticosteroid injection** — Short-term symptomatic relief (weeks to months). Repeated injections may accelerate joint deterioration and are not a long-term solution.
- **Hyaluronic acid (viscosupplementation) injection** — Less established evidence for hip than for knee; some patients report symptomatic improvement.

### surgical

- **Total hip replacement** — Definitive surgical treatment for end-stage hip osteoarthritis. Modern implant survivorship at 15 years exceeds 90% in registry data.
- **Hip resurfacing arthroplasty** — Bone-conserving alternative to total hip replacement; metal-on-metal bearings limit current usage to selected younger male patients due to historical concerns about metal-ion debris.
- **Hip arthroscopy (for early labral pathology)** — Minimally invasive treatment of femoroacetabular impingement and labral tears in earlier disease; not appropriate for advanced osteoarthritis.

## Related procedures

- https://thetreatmentregistry.com/procedures/hip-replacement

## Sources

- [AAOS — Surgical Management of Osteoarthritis of the Knee Clinical Practice Guideline](https://www.aaos.org/quality/quality-programs/lower-extremity-programs/surgical-management-of-osteoarthritis-of-the-knee/) — American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (accessed 2026-05-09)