Management for hip-joint conditions

For the principles of management of pain felt in the hip region associated with injuries and inflammation, see:

• Introduction to soft-tissue limb injuries
• Management principles for muscle strain
• Management principles for ligament sprain
• Management principles for tendinopathy.

For advice on the specific management and utility of investigations for rheumatological conditions that may involve the hip joint in adults, see individual topics including:

• osteoarthritis (OA)
• femoroacetabular impingement syndrome and acetabular-labral tear, which are often associated with OA
• rheumatoid arthritis
• axial spondyloarthritis
• systemic lupus erythematosus
• polymyalgia rheumatica.

For advice on the investigation and specific management of important hip-joint conditions not to be missed in children and adolescents, see the individual topics including:

• Perthes disease
• slipped upper femoral epiphysis (SUFE)
• transient synovitis (irritable hip)
• septic arthritis
• osteomyelitis.

If a traumatic cause of hip-joint pain is suspected, refer the person to an emergency department or orthopaedic surgeon.