Can hip synovitis be treated?

Hip synovitis is treatable, and most patients recover fully with prompt treatment and proper care. Treatments include medication, physical therapy, and, if necessary, surgery. Rest and lifestyle adjustments are also needed to alleviate symptoms and promote recovery.

1 Cause Analysis

The occurrence of hip synovitis is usually related to the following factors:

Trauma: Excessive exercise, falls, or mechanical injury to the hip joint may cause synovitis.

Infection: Bacterial and viral infections may enter the synovium of the hip joint and trigger an inflammatory response.

Immune abnormalities: Certain autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis may induce hip synovitis.

Overuse: Prolonged standing, strenuous exercise, or excessive wear and tear on the joints may cause a chronic inflammatory response.

2. Drug treatment

Medical treatment is usually the first choice for synovitis, mainly to relieve pain and control inflammation.

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs): such as ibuprofen or naproxen, are used to relieve pain and inflammation.

Hormonal therapy: For people with severe symptoms or who don’t respond well to NSAIDs, your doctor may give you a corticosteroid injection to quickly relieve swelling and pain in the synovium of the hip.

Antibiotic treatment: If the synovitis is caused by a bacterial infection, antibiotic treatment can help eliminate the source of the infection.

3Physical therapy and rehabilitation

Physical therapy and daily care can help relieve stress on your joints and promote restored function.

Local cold compress: It can effectively relieve acute inflammation and swelling. Apply cold compress for 15 to 20 minutes each time, 2 to 3 times a day.

Hip muscle exercises: Gradually increase your activity after the pain is relieved, and perform appropriate stretching and strength training to enhance hip joint stability, such as bridge exercises or straight leg raises.

Assistance with crutches or braces: For those with limited mobility, using crutches can reduce pressure on the hip joint and promote recovery from inflammation.

4 Surgical intervention

When medications and physical therapy are ineffective, the condition worsens, or there is a serious infection, surgery may need to be considered.

Synovectomy: used to remove the hyperplastic synovial tissue in the hip joint and reduce the inflammatory response.

Arthroscopic debridement: Removal of fluid, debris, or diseased tissue through the arthroscope to reduce inflammation.

Total hip replacement: For cases where synovitis develops into severe osteoarthritis, total hip replacement may be considered to restore joint function.

During treatment, patients need to avoid strenuous exercise and excessive activity, and ensure a balanced diet to enhance immunity. During the recovery period, patients should return for follow-up visits regularly and closely monitor changes in their condition.

Hip synovitis can be cured with professional treatment and effective care. Patients are advised to seek medical attention as soon as symptoms are discovered and not to delay. In daily life, pay attention to protecting the hip joint, exercise properly, avoid cold or overwork, so as to reduce the risk of recurrence.