[Younger patients with hip joint pain]

Area of Science:

• Orthopaedic Surgery
• Diagnostic Imaging

Background:

• Hip joint pain is a common ailment requiring accurate diagnosis and effective treatment.
• Understanding the underlying pathology is crucial for successful management.
• Conservative and surgical options exist, with joint-preserving procedures gaining prominence.

Purpose of the Study:

• To summarize current knowledge on diagnosing and treating hip joint pain.
• To present an algorithm for the diagnostic and treatment pathway.
• To highlight the efficacy of joint-preserving surgeries for specific hip conditions.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of diagnostic and treatment strategies for hip joint pain.
• Clinical assessment and standardized pelvic radiography for pathology confirmation.
• Presentation of a diagnostic and treatment algorithm.
• Review of surgical outcomes for hip dysplasia, acetabular retroversion, and impingement.

Main Results:

• Joint-preserving surgery yields good results in symptomatic patients with hip dysplasia, acetabular retroversion, or impingement (cam/pincer) without osteoarthritis.
• Clinical evaluation and standing pelvic radiographs are key for confirming intra-articular pathology.
• Periacetabular osteotomy is effective for dysplasia and retroversion; arthroscopic procedures are suitable for impingement.

Conclusions:

• Accurate diagnosis of intra-articular hip pathology is essential for successful treatment.
• Joint-preserving surgical interventions are effective for specific hip conditions, improving patient outcomes.
• A structured diagnostic and treatment algorithm aids in managing hip joint pain effectively.