Hip Pain

If you have hip pain, it is probably impacting the quality of your life, perhaps making it difficult to walk, sit or stand  for any length of time. At the University of Michigan Department of Orthopaedic Surgery we have several solutions to hip pain -- and not all of them require surgery. 

We evaluate and treat a wide variety of hip conditions, including:

  • Arthritis of the Hip
  • Avascular necrosis (also known as osteonecrosis) - when the bone in the hip joint deteriorates due to lack of blood supply
  • Hip dysplasia and impingement - when hip joint bones aren't properly aligned, causing the joint to wear out. This is seen in both younger and older patients
  • Hip fracture (break)

Our ultimate goal is to decrease your pain and restore your mobility and function. One of the ways in which we do this is to work closely with all the areas of your medical team that are involved in your care to shape a treatment plan that will work for you. 

Diagnosis of Hip Pain

When you come to the University of Michigan:

  • We will take your complete medical history, ask you about your pattern of symptoms and conduct a thorough physical exam.
  • We will consult with your referring physician, if there is one.
  • We may conduct tests such as X-rays, blood tests or bone biopsies. We may need to order a CT scan or an MRI. 

Then we will use all of this information to develop an individualized treatment plan for you. 

Non-Surgical Treatments for Hip Pain

At the University of Michigan Health System, we always take the non-surgical approach first. For hip pain, we would look at a variety of options for you, which might include:

  • Lifestyle changes
  • Injections
  • Medications
  • Physical therapy and rehabilitation (There have been amazing strides in this area, and U-M is a leader in using different forms of therapy and rehabilitation to promote mobility and alleviate pain.)
  • Walking aids

Hip Surgery

When non-surgical treatments don't work and the hip pain is interfering with your sleep or lifestyle, we look at hip surgery as the next option. The University of Michigan Health System can offer you several types of hip surgery, depending upon your diagnosis, including:

  • Hip arthroscopic surgery is a minimally invasive surgery. It involves making tiny incisions on the hip and using a camera and small surgical instruments to repair damage. Our goal is to slow down the process of degeneration and save the joint.
  • Hip replacement surgery is necessary when there is severe degenerative damage, meaning the joint has worn down. We remove the ball and socket and replace them with an artificial joint. Our success rate for hip replacement is 90-95 percent after 15 years for most patients.
  • Open hip impingement surgery is a way to reshape the hip joint in an attempt to prevent or slow the development of damage to the joint, such as arthritis. It's more involved than anthroscopy but it allows the surgeon to perform a greater correction than can be done with a scope.
  • Periacetabular osteotomy surgery is for patients with hip dysplasia. This procedure involves separating the hip socket from the pelvis, reshaping the socket as needed, and relocating the hip socket's position. 

Your surgeon will tell you about your options and explain the surgery and what it will entail. We trust our nationally and internationally regarded surgeons to make the best possible choice for you. 

The Michigan Edge in Hip Surgery

The University of Michigan Health System is actively working on improving the overall quality of hip replacement surgery in the state of Michigan. As a result of our expertise in hip surgery, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan chose us to lead the Michigan Arthroplasty Registry, a group of orthopaedic surgeons and medical professionals who are dedicated to improving the quality of care for patients undergoing hip and knee replacement procedures in Michigan.

As an academic center, we're actively involved in advanced research, including computer-assisted surgery. 

Contact Us / Make an Appointment

  • Orthopaedics, 734-936-5780
  • Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (PMR), 734-936-7175
  • Rheumatology, 888-229-3065

You're about to make an important decision, and we want to help you make a good one. Let our years of experience diagnosing and treating hip conditions help you. Visit our Contact Us page to see a list of Musculoskeletal Call Centers. Our staff will be glad to talk with you about your options and how we can help.