Can hip arthritis cause pain in the left groin area that radiates to the left buttock?

Hip Arthritis Pain Distribution: Groin to Buttock Radiation

Yes, hip arthritis commonly causes pain in the left groin area that can radiate to the left buttock, which is a classic pain distribution pattern for hip osteoarthritis. 1

Typical Pain Patterns in Hip Arthritis

• The primary symptom of hip arthritis is often pain in the groin area that may radiate to the buttock or thigh 1
• Pain is typically exacerbated with activity and alleviated with rest, with progressive worsening over time 1
• In a study of primary care patients with confirmed hip osteoarthritis, 53% reported groin pain and 38% reported buttock pain, with many experiencing both areas simultaneously 2
• Internal rotation of the affected hip often reproduces the patient's pain during physical examination 1

Anatomical Basis for Pain Distribution

• Hip joint pathology typically presents with anterior groin pain as the primary symptom, but pain can radiate to surrounding areas due to shared innervation 3
• The complex anatomy of the hip joint means that articular cartilage damage in weight-bearing areas can cause pain that radiates beyond the immediate joint area 1
• Pain from hip arthritis may be felt in multiple locations including the groin (53%), greater trochanter area (77%), anterior/lateral thigh (42%), and buttock (38%) 2

Differential Diagnosis Considerations

• While hip arthritis commonly presents with groin pain radiating to the buttock, other conditions can cause similar symptoms:
  • Labral tears can present with similar symptoms to hip arthritis 1
  • Femoroacetabular impingement (FAI) syndrome typically presents with groin pain that may also radiate to the buttock or thigh 1
  • Referred pain from the lumbar spine or sacroiliac joints can mimic hip pain 1
  • Iliopsoas tendinitis can cause groin pain that may be confused with hip arthritis 4

Diagnostic Approach

• Plain radiographs are the recommended first imaging step for evaluating hip pain and can often diagnose arthritis 1
• MRI without contrast is the most appropriate next imaging study when radiographs are inconclusive but clinical suspicion for hip pathology remains high 1
• Intra-articular anesthetic injection can be both diagnostic and therapeutic, providing temporary relief for hip arthritis pain 1
• Physical examination findings such as pain with internal rotation and limited range of motion support the diagnosis of hip arthritis 1

Management Considerations

• Initial management includes NSAIDs (strong recommendation) and physical therapy (moderate recommendation) 1
• Intra-articular corticosteroid injections could be considered for symptomatic hip osteoarthritis (moderate recommendation) 1
• For patients with progressive symptoms refractory to conservative measures, total hip arthroplasty may be indicated 1
• Acetaminophen may be considered when NSAIDs are contraindicated (consensus recommendation) 1

Hip arthritis pain distribution can vary between patients, but the pattern of groin pain radiating to the buttock is a classic presentation that should raise clinical suspicion for hip joint pathology.