Expert Sports Injury
Care in San Diego

Hip pain can make everyday movements harder than they should be. It can show up as discomfort climbing stairs, stiffness after sitting too long, or an annoying catching sensation when you turn or bend. These symptoms can point to an injury inside the hip joint, including damage to the smooth cartilage that helps your bones move against each other.

Cartilage injuries usually develop after an accident, from repeated stress, or alongside structural problems in the hip, such as arthritis. But the right treatment depends on the location and severity of the cartilage damage, your desired activity level, and the overall condition of the hip joint. 

Continue reading to learn when nonsurgical care can help manage pain and maintain mobility, when you may benefit from hip arthroscopy or regenerative therapy, and where to find the best hip surgeon in Orange County to guide your treatment. 

What Happens When Hip Cartilage Is Damaged?

Articular cartilage is the smooth, firm tissue that covers the ends of the bones inside the hip joint. It allows the ball at the top of the thighbone to move smoothly within the hip socket while helping distribute pressure across the joint. When cartilage becomes damaged, the joint can no longer move as comfortably. This can cause microscopic injury to the joint that can range from a small area of surface damage to a deeper defect that exposes the underlying bone. Since cartilage has limited ability to repair itself, getting an early diagnosis and treatment is the best way to treat persistent symptoms that interfere with your usual activities.

What Can Cause Cartilage Damage in the Hip?

Hip cartilage injuries can happen in several ways, including: 

• Sports injuries: Sudden twisting, impact, or forceful movements can injure cartilage during activities that involve running, pivoting, or changing direction.
• Hip impingement: Femoroacetabular impingement, or FAI, occurs when the bones of the hip have an abnormal shape that causes them to rub against each other during movement. This repeated contact can damage cartilage and the labrum.
• Trauma: A fall, collision, or other direct impact can damage the cartilage inside the joint.
• Repeated stress: Repetitive loading from sports or other physical activities may contribute to cartilage wear.
• Joint degeneration: Cartilage can break down over time as part of osteoarthritis or other degenerative changes in the hip.

A cartilage injury can also occur alongside a labral tear. The labrum is a ring of cartilage around the hip socket that helps support the joint. When the labrum and nearby articular cartilage are both damaged, people often experience pain, stiffness, or a feeling that the hip catches during movement.

Symptoms of Hip Cartilage Damage

Hip cartilage damage can cause symptoms that overlap with other hip conditions, but common signs can include:

• Pain deep in the hip or groin that causes discomfort when walking, running, bending, or rotating the hip
• Stiffness or reduced flexibility, or difficulty moving your hip through its usual range
• The joint may catch, click, or feel as though something is moving inside it
• Temporary locking or difficulty moving the hip through part of its range
• Reduced mobility from pain or stiffness that makes it harder to squat, climb stairs, get in and out of a car, or participate in sports
• Pain during activity, like exercise or after spending time on your feet

Non-surgical Treatments for Hip Cartilage Injuries 

Depending on the extent of the damage and the cause of your symptoms, nonsurgical treatment may help reduce pain, improve movement, and support your return to daily activities:

1. Physical Therapy and Activity Changes

Physical therapy can help improve hip strength, mobility, and movement control. A customized program may focus on strengthening the muscles that support the hip while reducing movements that place excessive stress on the joint. The goal is to maintain as much comfortable movement as possible while limiting irritation to the injured area.

2. Platelet-Rich Plasma Injections

Platelet-rich plasma, or PRP, is made from a sample of your own blood. The sample is processed to concentrate platelets, which contain substances involved in the body's healing response. PRP is often considered for musculoskeletal conditions, including some sports injuries and joint-related pain, although its potential benefits depend on the condition being treated.

3. Hyaluronic Acid Injections

Hyaluronic acid is a substance found naturally in joint fluid. Injections are designed to improve joint lubrication and may help relieve pain or stiffness in some people with joint degeneration. SynoJoynt, a hyaluronic acid-based injection, can sometimes be used for cartilage-related joint pain. 

4. Other Orthobiologic Treatments

Interfyl, a placental tissue matrix injection, and bone marrow aspirate concentrate (BMAC) are regenerative treatment options that can be considered for cartilage-related joint pain in some cases.

When Is Surgery for Hip Cartilage Damage Necessary?

When symptoms continue despite nonsurgical treatment, or when imaging identifies a problem that may benefit from surgery, hip arthroscopy is a great treatment option for most active individuals. Hip arthroscopy is a minimally invasive procedure that uses a small camera and specialized instruments inserted through small incisions. It allows the surgeon to examine the joint and treat certain problems while limiting disruption to the surrounding tissues. The best hip surgeon in Orange County usually recommends hip arthroscopy when a patient has:

• Persistent hip pain that has not improved with conservative treatment
• Cartilage damage associated with a labral tear or hip impingement
• Repeated catching, locking, or other mechanical symptoms
• Loose fragments of cartilage or bone inside the joint
• A structural problem that continues to irritate or damage the joint

Hip Arthroscopy: Minimally Invasive Hip Surgery That Supports Joint Preservation

When cartilage damage occurs alongside a treatable problem, addressing that problem may help reduce ongoing irritation and protect the joint from additional stress. For example, hip impingement can cause abnormal contact between the bones. In selected patients, correcting the underlying bone shape during arthroscopy may reduce that contact. The goal is to relieve symptoms, improve function, and preserve as much healthy tissue as possible. Surgical techniques that offer joint preservation, like arthroscopy, focus on maintaining your natural joint function for as long as possible.

Recovery After Hip Cartilage Surgery

After surgery, you may need crutches for a period of time to reduce stress on the joint. Your care team will provide instructions about weight-bearing, movement, and when to resume specific activities. Physical therapy is essential after surgery to help you rebuild strength, improve mobility, and gradually return to your usual routine. While some patients resume daily activities within several weeks, full recovery may take a little longer. 

Discover the Best Hip Surgeon in Orange County for Hip Cartilage Repair

Hip cartilage damage can affect your comfort, mobility, and ability to stay active. For some, physical therapy and nonsurgical treatments may help. But others will need hip arthroscopy to address cartilage damage, loose bodies, labral tears, or hip impingement.

Dr. Sanjum Samagh is a board-certified orthopedic surgeon with advanced training in orthopedic sports medicine and hip arthroscopy. His training includes a fellowship in orthopedic sports surgery and sports medicine at Northwestern University, where he gained experience in hip arthroscopy. He also has a background in orthopedic research and regenerative therapies, including PRP and Interfyl tissue therapy.

Today, Dr. Samagh leads the team at San Diego Performance Orthopedics and Regenerative Therapy. At our Encinitas clinic, we take a patient-focused approach, prioritizing nonsurgical care and minimally invasive techniques when appropriate. For patients who need surgery, we use specialized arthroscopic techniques to address hip problems while preserving healthy tissue whenever possible. This is why patients across Leucadia, Del Mar, Solana Beach, Cardiff, Carlsbad, Oceanside, Torrey Pines, and throughout North County Orange County and Southern California trust us for personalized surgical and non-surgical care. 

If hip pain, catching, or stiffness is keeping you from the activities you enjoy, schedule a consultation with the best hip surgeon in Orange County to learn about treatment options.