Hip Ultrasound Scan in London £150.00
Hip Joint Ultrasound Guided Injection in London £280.00 (all inc.)
Hip osteoarthritis is the medical term for degenerative changes affecting the articular surfaces of the hip joint, the bony margins of the joint, and the surrounding soft tissues, particularly the hip joint capsule.
Each individual case will have unique characteristics, but hip joint osteoarthritis is most commonly felt as pain in the groin, which may radiate to the front of the thigh.
Symptoms are often aggravated by:
Rising from sitting
Sports or activities involving twisting and turning
Prolonged walking
Due to the nature of the condition, onset is typically gradual, but symptoms usually progress over time.
Hip osteoarthritis has a significant developmental and genetic component, with some individuals developing early signs of hip arthritis in their 20s or 30s (although this is uncommon).
Major injury to the bones of the hip joint earlier in life may also predispose an individual to developing hip osteoarthritis in later life.
Ultrasound imaging can visualise the bony margins of the femoral head and neck (the "ball" part of the joint), as well as the acetabular socket of the hip joint.
Ultrasound can also assess for the presence of hip joint effusion (joint swelling). In many patients with hip osteoarthritis, ultrasound imaging will demonstrate:
Irregularity of the bony joint margins
Swelling within the joint capsule
If physical therapy has not provided adequate relief, an intra-articular hip joint injection can be considered.
There are two safe and effective ultrasound-guided injection techniques:
1️⃣ Traditional longitudinal approach:
The ultrasound probe is placed in a longitudinal orientation, angled at approximately 45°, so that the hip joint margins are visualised at one end of the image, and the lateral hip at the other.
The femoral neck and hip joint capsule are clearly seen.
The needle is visualised passing into the hip joint capsule at the femoral neck, with local anaesthetic used during needle advancement and as the initial injectate, to ensure safe and accurate delivery into the hip joint capsule.
2️⃣ Oblique femoral head-centred approach:
The femoral head is positioned under the centre of the ultrasound probe, with the probe angled obliquely.
A steep angle is used to introduce the needle through the skin and onto the femoral head, beneath the hip joint capsule.
An initial injectate of local anaesthetic is used to confirm safe and accurate needle placement, followed by delivery of the full injection into the capsule.
Needle Path & Post-Injection Pain
Many patients feel apprehensive before a hip joint injection, but the procedure is performed calmly under local anaesthetic to minimise discomfort. The hip joint is deep, but with precise ultrasound guidance, the needle path itself typically does not cause significant post-injection pain once the local anaesthetic has worn off.
Very rarely, a post-injection flare may occur, causing temporary pain for 2–3 days. This is believed to be related to the medication reacting with the joint fluid, rather than the needle path itself.
Wound Care & Infection Risk
As with all ultrasound-guided injections, avoid exposing the injection site to dirty or public water (such as swimming pools or hot tubs) for 2–3 days due to the small risk of infection. Monitor the injection site for redness, swelling, or discharge and contact me if these occur.
Activity Guidance
Activity should be kept light for the first 1–2 weeks following the injection. After this period, if symptoms allow, you can begin to increase your activity levels and gradually return to normal daily tasks and rehabilitation exercises as directed.
Follow-Up
If you experience unusual pain, swelling, redness, or any concerns following your injection, please contact me immediately.
I run musculoskeletal ultrasound diagnostic and ultrasound guided injections services at a range of locations across London.
Clinic Times: Mondays, 2:30 pm – 4:30 pm
Convenient access from: Kew, Sheen, Twickenham
More information on Richmond TW9 Ultrasound Guided Injection Clinic and Booking.
Clinic Times: Mondays, 5:30 pm – 7:30 pm
Convenient access from: Wandsworth, Fulham, Roehampton
More information on Putney SW15 Ultrasound Guided Injection Clinic and Booking.
Clinic Times: Tuesdays, 8:00 am – 10:00 am
Convenient access from: Hampton, Twickenham, Strawberry Hill
More information on Teddinton TW11 Ultrasound Guided Injection Clinic and Booking.
Clinic Times: Tuesdays, 2:00 pm – 4:00 pm
Convenient access from: Stratford, Custom House, Royal Docks
More information on Canning Town E16 Ultrasound Guided Injection Clinic and Booking.
Clinic Times: Tuesdays, 5:00 pm – 7:00 pm
Convenient access from: Brixton, Dulwich, Camberwell
More information on Herne Hill SE24 Ultrasound Guided Injection Clinic and Booking.
Clinic Times: Thursdays , 9:00 am – 11:00 am
Convenient access from: Clapham, Tooting, Streatham
More information on Balham Ultrasound Guided Injection Clinic and Booking.
Clinic Locations: London Waterloo SE1 8UL, Canary Wharf E14 4HD, Elephant & Castle SE1 6LN
Convenient locations for AC Joint Injections across central London
Robust evidence, including international guidelines (e.g., NICE, OARSI), supports exercise therapy and weight management as first-line treatment for hip OA. Physiotherapy improves strength, joint function, and pain through neuromuscular reconditioning. Intra-articular corticosteroid injections offer reliable short-term relief and are often used in patients awaiting surgery or those with significant flares. However, repeated corticosteroids may contribute to cartilage degradation. Hyaluronic acid injections are less damaging and may provide symptom relief over a longer period in mild to moderate OA. In patients with advanced OA and severe pain or functional limitation, total hip arthroplasty is highly effective, with excellent long-term outcomes and quality-of-life improvement.
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