Regenerative medicine injection techniques for the hip pathology

Abstract

Hip pain is a common complaint that can have both intra-articular and extra-articular origins. Three common causes of hip pain are hip osteoarthritis, iliopsoas tendinopathy, and gluteus medius tendinopathy. Current treatment plans range from conservative measures to surgical replacement. Traditionally, minimally invasive approaches with the use of corticosteroid and local anesthetic injections have served to manage symptoms of pain without altering disease progression. In addition, these agents have been associated with deleterious effects on bone, tendon, and cartilage health. Emerging regenerative medicine techniques are becoming increasingly popular for the management of hip pain, as they have been shown to improve clinical outcomes and potentially alter disease progression. Some of these techniques, such as injection of platelet-rich plasma, mesenchymal stem cells, and percutaneous needle fenestration, have been shown to promote healing of damaged tissue. These techniques are often augmented by the use of ultrasound imaging, which greatly increases ease and accuracy. This article reviews ultrasound-guided regenerative orthopedic injections specifically for hip joint osteoarthritis, gluteus medius tendinopathy, and iliopsoas tendinopathy.