Hip Joint Injection

• Purpose – To help relieve pain in the hip due to arthritis. The injection may also be used to diagnose and treat hip joint pain.

• Overview – Injections deliver an anesthetic for diagnostic purposes, or combination of anesthetic and anti-inflammatory (cortisone) solution directly into the joint for long term pain relief.   Image guidance may be used for this procedure.

• Before the procedure – If anti-inflammatory solution is used it may increase your blood sugars. Consult your primary care doctor or endocrinologist before this procedure if you have a history of elevated blood sugars.

• Details – The procedure begins with the sterilization of the skin at the injection site. Once the accurate location of the injection is determined, the anesthetic and anti-inflammatory solutions are injected directly into the joint space.

• After the procedure – There may be numbness or pain at the injection site that can last 2-3 hours. Redness and a feeling of warmth may be experienced. Apply ice as needed to relieve any pain from the injection and protect the injection area for a couple of days by avoiding strenuous activity. It is important to be aware of heightened pain, redness and swelling that lasts more than two days.

• Potential complications – Osteonecrosis (death of nearby bone), infection, nerve damage, thinning of skin and tissue surrounding the injection site, pain and inflammation of the joint, tendon weakening or rupture, osteoporosis (nearby bone thinning), and skin discoloration around the injection site. Due to potential complications, physicians will limit the number of injections given to a patient based on the joint and the reason for treatment.