The evaluation of hip pain begins with a history and physical examination.

Physical findings in someone with hip pain may include:

• Bruising of the buttocks
• Bruising over the hip
• Inability to stand
• Limping
• Leg numbness (unilateral):
• Numbness in the leg below the hip
• Pain with movement of the hip joint
• Shortening of the leg on the affected side
• Swelling of the soft tissue over the hip
• Warmth over the hip joint
• Redness to the skin over the hip joint
• Tenderness over the hip
• Weakness in the leg below the hip

Tests may be required to evaluate hip pain.

Tests that may be used to evaluate hip pain include:

• Complete blood count
• Erythrocyte sedimentation rate
• X-rays of the hip:
• Common hip fractures
• Femoral neck hip fracture
• Intertrochanteric hip fracture
• Normal hip x-ray
• Types of hip fracture
• Arthrocentesis of the hip joint
• Arthroscopy of the hip joint
• CT scan of the hip
• MRI of the hip joint
• Bone scan