Table 2.
Differential diagnosis of hip pain.
| Classification | Potential Etiologies |
|---|---|
| Location | |
| Lateral hip pain | Greater trochanteric bursitis |
| Gluteus medius dysfunction | |
| Iliotibial band syndrome | |
| Meralgia paresthetica | |
| Anterior hip pain | Osteoarthritis |
| Hip flexor tendinopathy | |
| Iliopsoas bursitis | |
| Hip fracture | |
| Stress fracture | |
| Acetabular labral tear | |
| Avascular necrosis of humeral head | |
| Posterior hip pain | Referred from lumbar spine |
| Sacroiliac joint dysfunction | |
| Hip extensor or rotator strain | |
| Proximal hamstring rupture | |
| Piriformis syndrome | |
| Medial hip pain | Groin pain |
| Location about joint | |
| Intra-articular | Labral tears |
| Loose bodies | |
| Femoroacetabular impingement | |
| Capsular laxity | |
| Ligamentum teres rupture | |
| Chondral damage | |
| Extra-articular | Iliopsoas tendonitis |
| Iliotibial band | |
| Gluteus medius/minimus | |
| Greater trochanteric bursitis | |
| Stress fracture | |
| Abductor strain | |
| Piriformis syndrome | |
| SI joint pathology | |
| Onset | |
| Acute | Muscle strain |
| Contusion (hip pointer) | |
| Avulsions and apophyseal injuries | |
| Hip dislocation/subluxation | |
| Acetabular labral tears and loose bodies | |
| Proximal femur fractures | |
| Insidious | Sports hernias and athletic pubalgia |
| Osteitis pubis | |
| Bursitis | |
| Snapping hip syndrome | |
| Stress syndrome | |
| Osteoarthritis | |
| Systemic causes | Cancer |
| Infection | |
| Inflammatory arthritis | |
| Mimickers of hip pain | Athletic pubalgia |
| Sports hernia | |
| Osteitis pubis | |
| Referred pain | Lumbar spine |
| Degenerative disc disease | |