Diagnostic Approach to Hip Pain in Spinal Cord Injury Patients

Understanding Hip Pain Etiology

Hip flexor contractures can cause anterior hip pain in wheelchair users, as reported by the British Journal of Sports Medicine 1
Hip osteoarthritis can result from altered loading patterns and premature degeneration, according to The Journal of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons 2
Sacroiliac joint dysfunction can occur due to pelvic asymmetry and wheelchair positioning, as noted by Praxis Medical Insights 3

The British Journal of Sports Medicine recommends performing targeted physical examination, including hip range of motion and palpation of the greater trochanter 1, 4
Imaging studies, such as AP pelvis and lateral hip radiographs, can help evaluate for hip osteoarthritis, heterotopic ossification, and fractures, as suggested by the British Journal of Sports Medicine 1, 4, 5
MRI of the hip and pelvis can be used to further evaluate for labral tears, intra-articular pathology, and soft tissue inflammation, as recommended by the British Journal of Sports Medicine and Praxis Medical Insights 3, 4, 5

The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons supports physical therapy as an evidence-based treatment for musculoskeletal pain before surgical options, as reported by The Journal of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons and Praxis Medical Insights 2, 6
Intra-articular corticosteroid injection can offer both diagnostic confirmation and therapeutic benefit for confirmed hip joint pathology, according to The Journal of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons and Praxis Medical Insights 2, 3, 6