Causes of hip joint pain

Important: hip joint pain is often felt not in the joint itself, but in the groin, anterior thigh, buttock, or even the knee. If the knee hurts but no pathology is found there — check the hip joint.

Degenerative Diseases

Hip Osteoarthritis (Coxarthrosis)

The most common cause of chronic hip joint pain after age 50. Destruction of the cartilage covering the femoral head and acetabulum. Stages: 1 — pain after prolonged walking; 2 — pain with normal load, limping, restricted rotation; 3 — pain at rest, leg shortening, contracture; 4 — complete immobility. Traditional medicine offers joint replacement at stages 3-4. MIBRAR® is effective at stages 1-3.

→ Treatment of Hip Osteoarthritis (Coxarthrosis) using the MIBRAR® method

Avascular Necrosis of the Femoral Head

Death of bone tissue due to impaired blood supply. Risk factors: corticosteroid use, alcohol, trauma, sickle cell anemia, radiation therapy. ARCO stages: I — MRI changes without X-ray findings; II — sclerosis/cysts on X-ray; III — subchondral collapse (crescent sign); IV — secondary osteoarthritis. MIBRAR® is most effective at stages I-II: CGF and stem cells restore blood supply and stimulate osteogenesis.

→ Treatment of Avascular Necrosis

Structural Pathologies

Femoroacetabular Impingement (FAI)

Pathological contact between the femoral head and the acetabular rim. Types: cam (head thickening), pincer (excessive coverage), mixed. Groin pain with flexion and internal rotation, restriction with squatting and driving. Common in young athletes.

→ Treatment of Hip Impingement Syndrome

Acetabular Labrum Injury

Tear of the cartilage ring at the acetabular rim. Clicking, locking, groin pain. Often accompanies FAI. May not be visible on standard MRI — MR arthrography is needed.

→ Treatment of Labrum Injury

Perthes Disease

Avascular necrosis of the femoral head in children aged 4-10 years. Limping, groin and knee pain. Timely treatment is critically important for normal joint development.

→ Treatment of Perthes Disease

Periarticular Pathologies

Greater Trochanteric Bursitis (Trochanteritis)

Inflammation of the bursa over the greater trochanter. Pain on the lateral thigh surface, worsening when lying on the affected side. Common in women aged 40-60, runners. Tenderness on palpation of the greater trochanter.

→ Treatment of Hip Bursitis

Adductor Muscle Tendinopathy

"Groin strain" — overload of the hip adductor muscles. Groin pain with leg abduction, physical exertion. Common injury in soccer, hockey.

Piriformis Syndrome

Spasm of the piriformis muscle compressing the sciatic nerve. Buttock pain radiating to the posterior thigh. Mimics sciatica, but the source is the muscle, not the spine.

Referred Pain

Lumbar Spine

L2-L4 disc herniations can cause groin and anterior thigh pain, mimicking hip joint pathology. If there is back pain combined with "hip" discomfort — MRI of both regions.

Sacroiliac Joint

Sacroiliitis may present with pain in the buttock and posterior thigh. Provocative tests (FABER, Gaenslen) help differentiate.

Diagnosis of Hip Joint Pain

MRI of the Hip Joint

Gold standard. Visualizes cartilage, labrum, bone marrow (necrosis!), tendons, bursae. If labrum injury is suspected — MR arthrography with contrast. If necrosis is suspected — mandatory: X-ray may be normal at stage I.

Standing Pelvis X-ray

Both sides for comparison. Assessment: joint space, osteophytes, femoral head shape (cam/pincer), Wiberg angle (coverage), signs of necrosis (crescent sign, collapse).

Clinical Tests

FABER/Patrick test (Hip Joint vs SI joint), FADIR test (impingement), Trendelenburg test (abductor weakness), log-roll test (intra-articular pathology). Limitation of internal rotation — early sign of Hip Osteoarthritis (Coxarthrosis).

Diagnostic Injection

If pain source is unclear — injection of anesthetic under ultrasound guidance into the Hip Joint. If pain completely resolves — source confirmed.

Hip Joint Treatment Using the MIBRAR® Method

Hip Joint — deep joint requiring precise navigation for access. Cyber Navi Hand™ under C-arm control ensures safe and accurate biomaterial injection.

Cartilage

Intra-articular injection of CGF + Lipogems® stimulates chondrogenesis. On follow-up MRI at 6-12 months — increased cartilage thickness, reduced bone marrow edema.

Bone Tissue (Necrosis)

For Avascular Necrosis of the Femoral Head: core decompression + injection of CGF and stem cells into necrosis zone. Restoration of vascularization and osteogenesis. At stages I-II — progression halted in 85% of cases.

Labrum and Capsule

Injection of biomaterials into labrum injury zone stimulates healing. For capsulitis — restoration of elasticity. For Hip Bursitis — targeted injection into inflamed bursa.

95% For Hip Osteoarthritis (Coxarthrosis) grade 2
85% For necrosis I-II ARCO
30-45 min Procedure
0 Days of hospitalization

Don't wait until joint replacement is needed

At Hip Osteoarthritis (Coxarthrosis) stages 3-4, joint replacement is often inevitable. At stages 1-3, MIBRAR® can preserve your native joint.

Submit MRI for evaluation

Diseases of the Hip Joint

Hip Osteoarthritis (Coxarthrosis)

Hip Joint osteoarthritis. Pain while walking, limping, restricted rotation.

Avascular Necrosis of the Femoral Head

Bone tissue death. Progressive pain, risk of femoral head collapse.

Labral Tear

Acetabular labrum tear. Clicking, catching, groin pain.

Hip Impingement (FAI)

Pathological contact. Pain on flexion, restricted squatting.

Hip Bursitis

Trochanteritis. Pain along lateral thigh, pain when lying on side.

Perthes Disease

Necrosis in children. Limping, groin and knee pain in child 4-10 years old.

Questions about Hip Joint Pain

Why does the hip joint hurt when walking?

The most common cause is Hip Osteoarthritis (Coxarthrosis). Also: Avascular Necrosis of the Femoral Head, Labral Tear, Hip Bursitis, Hip Impingement (FAI). For accurate diagnosis, MRI of the Hip Joint is required.

Is it possible to avoid hip joint replacement?

Yes. MIBRAR® restores cartilage and bone tissue without joint replacement. For stage 2 coxarthrosis, effectiveness is 95%; for stage 3 — 80%. For stage I-II necrosis — progression arrest in 85% of cases.

What is avascular necrosis of the femoral head?

Death of bone tissue due to impaired blood supply. Risk factors: corticosteroids, alcohol, trauma. Without treatment, it leads to femoral head collapse and the need for joint replacement.

Is groin pain the hip joint?

Yes, groin pain is typical referred pain in Hip Joint pathology. Pain may also radiate to the anterior thigh, knee, and buttock. If the knee hurts without pathology — check the Hip Joint.

What examinations are needed?

MRI of the Hip Joint (primary), standing pelvis X-ray (joint space, osteoarthritis stage). If necrosis is suspected — MRI is mandatory; X-ray may be normal in early stages.