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Hip · Shoulder and Sports Medicine

Hip Labral Tear

A tear in the cartilage rim of the hip socket, usually from impingement between a misshapen ball and socket, causing a sharp pinch deep in the groin with pivoting or sitting.

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Hip · Joint Replacement

Avascular Necrosis of the Hip

Loss of blood supply to the ball of the hip, which causes the bone to die and collapse. Early treatment can save the joint; late disease needs replacement.

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Hip · Joint Replacement

Hip Fractures

A break of the upper thigh bone at the hip, almost always from a fall in an older adult, treated with urgent surgery to get the patient standing again.

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Hip · Joint Replacement

Failed or Infected Joint Replacement

A hip or knee replacement that has loosened, worn, become unstable or developed an infection, causing pain and loss of function years after a good result.

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ContactTalk toa real person.

Two clinics, one number to call or text. Same-day appointments for acute injuries whenever we can. The front desk will match you with the right surgeon.

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Provo1055 N 300 W, Ste 104

Orem700 W 800 N, Ste 330

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What it is

Avascular Necrosis of the Hip

The ball of the hip has a fragile blood supply.

When it is interrupted, the bone inside dies, weakens, and eventually collapses, taking the cartilage with it.It strikes younger adults than arthritis, often between thirty and fifty.

At a glance

Also calledOsteonecrosis

Most commonAges 30 to 50, steroids

First stepMRI

Treated by

Jeffrey Wallentine, MD, Joint Replacement surgeon at Ridgeline Orthopedic Specialists

Dr. WallentineJoint Replacement

Kevin Christensen, MD, Knee, Shoulder and Sports Medicine surgeon at Ridgeline Orthopedic Specialists

Dr. ChristensenKnee, Shoulder and Sports Medicine

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or call801-640-0000

Avascular Necrosis of the Hip

Symptoms

Groin pain that starts gradually and worsens with weight bearing, then at rest.A limp. Pain that no longer matches a normal X-ray.

Both hips are affected in about half of patients.

Common signs

Groin pain without injury

Worse with weight bearing

A limp

Pain with a normal X-ray

See us sooner if

Steroid or heavy alcohol history

Pain in both hips

Avascular Necrosis of the Hip

Causes

Long-term or high-dose corticosteroid use, heavy alcohol use, hip fracture or dislocation, sickle cell disease, and some blood and autoimmune conditions. Often no cause is found.A history of steroid treatment is the most common thread.

Avascular Necrosis of the Hip

How We Diagnose It

Early disease is invisible on X-ray, so MRI is the key test and is ordered whenever a younger adult has unexplained hip pain. X-rays stage the collapse once it has started.Staging decides whether the joint can be saved.MRI is ordered at the first visit for younger adults with unexplained hip pain; early disease can sometimes be treated without replacement. Dr. Wallentine and Dr. Christensen operate at Utah Valley Hospital and Mountain View Hospital.

Avascular Necrosis of the Hip

Treatment Options

Early, pre-collapse disease may be treated with core decompression, drilling into the dead bone to restore blood flow, sometimes with bone graft or biologics, plus protected weight bearing.Once the ball has collapsed, total hip replacement is the reliable answer, and the direct anterior approach suits these younger patients well.

Your options

Non-surgical

Protected weight bearing

Medication review

Surgical

Core decompression

Total hip replacement

Total Hip Replacement

Biologic Treatments

Avascular Necrosis of the Hip

Procedures That Address It

Total Hip Replacement

Biologic Treatments

Avascular Necrosis of the Hip

Surgeons Who Treat It

Dr. Wallentine, MD

Thirty-four years in practice. Mako robotic-assisted hip and knee replacement. Stanford sports medicine fellowship. BYU athletics team surgeon.

Dr. Christensen, MD

Andrews Institute sports medicine fellowship under Dr. James Andrews. Board certified in orthopedic surgery and orthopedic sports medicine. Fluent in Spanish.

Request an appointment

or call801-640-0000

ContactTalk toa real person.

Two clinics, one number to call or text. Same-day appointments for acute injuries whenever we can. The front desk will match you with the right surgeon.

Call801-640-0000

TextSend a text

Provo1055 N 300 W, Ste 104

Orem700 W 800 N, Ste 330

Request an appointment

Find a clinic

Nondiscrimination Accessibility Good Faith Estimate