Stem Cell Therapy for Hip Pain: Is It Right for You?

Medically reviewed by Dr. Gaurav Goswami, MD — prepared October 2026

Stem cell therapy for hips is being studied mainly for hip osteoarthritis, where early research suggests it may offer pain relief and better function with a favorable safety profile. The evidence is much thinner than for the knee, however, and high-quality randomized trials are limited. Stem cell therapy for hip pain is generally considered for mild-to-moderate arthritis after an accurate diagnosis, and it requires image guidance because the hip joint sits deep within the body.

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What Causes Hip Pain That Stem Cell Therapy Might Address?

The most common reason people explore stem cell therapy for the hip is osteoarthritis, the gradual breakdown of the joint’s cartilage. As the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases explains, osteoarthritis damages the slippery tissue that covers the ends of the bones, causing pain, swelling, and loss of motion. Learn more about our approach to arthritis treatment.

Not all pain felt around the hip comes from the hip joint itself. Pain in the groin is commonly linked to the joint, pain on the outer hip often involves surrounding tendons, and pain in the buttock can come from the lower back or sacroiliac joint. Sorting out the true source is the first step. Our article on hip pain causes, prognosis, and recovery covers the common culprits.

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What Does the Research Show for Hip Osteoarthritis?

The research is encouraging but early. A systematic review of mesenchymal stem cell injections for hip osteoarthritis concluded that the injections appear safe and show promise for pain relief and functional improvement. It also noted that high-quality studies are limited, sample sizes are small, many studies lack control groups, and follow-up is too short to draw firm long-term conclusions.

A 2024 scoping review of bone marrow stem cell therapy for hip osteoarthritis reported that its authors were not aware of any completed randomized controlled trials of the treatment in the hip, which meant a formal meta-analysis wasn’t possible. By comparison, the knee has more than two dozen randomized trials behind it. That gap is worth keeping in mind when evaluating any claims about results in the hip.

Why Do Hip Injections Require Image Guidance?

The hip is one of the deepest joints in the body, surrounded by thick muscle and lying close to major blood vessels and nerves. Reaching the joint accurately without imaging is difficult, which is why hip injections are typically performed under fluoroscopy, a form of live X-ray, or under ultrasound guidance. Studies of bone marrow injections for hip arthritis have used fluoroscopic imaging to confirm placement.

Guidance also appears to matter for results. A 2024 meta-analysis of randomized trials found that ultrasound-guided joint injections produced better clinical outcomes than landmark-guided injections in knee, hip, and hand osteoarthritis. Ultrasound also allows real-time visualization of nearby blood vessels and nerves without radiation exposure.

What Non-Surgical Options Should You Try First?

For most people with hip osteoarthritis, care starts with conservative measures: physical therapy to strengthen the muscles that support the hip, activity modification, weight management when appropriate, and medications as advised by a physician. Because joint pain can lead to inactivity and muscle weakness that puts more stress on the joint, as the NIAMS notes, strengthening is often the foundation of any plan.

Injections, whether cortisone, PRP, or stem cells, are typically considered when these measures haven’t provided enough relief. Stem cell therapy is best thought of as one option within that broader plan, not a replacement for it.

stem cell therapy for hips

Who May Be a Candidate for Hip Stem Cell Therapy?

People most often considered have mild-to-moderate hip osteoarthritis confirmed by imaging, symptoms that haven’t improved enough with physical therapy, activity changes, or medication, and a desire to avoid or delay surgery. Overall health and activity goals also factor into the decision. Bringing recent X-ray or MRI reports to your consultation helps speed the evaluation.

Candidacy is decided individually. An evaluation through our hip pain treatment program considers your imaging, exam findings, and goals, and includes an honest conversation about the limits of the current evidence.

When Is Hip Replacement the Better Choice?

For severe, end-stage hip arthritis, where much of the cartilage is gone and pain limits basic activities, hip replacement remains the established and reliable treatment. Regenerative injections are not designed to restore a joint that has lost most of its cartilage.

There is no shame in surgery being the right answer. A physician focused on regenerative medicine should be willing to tell you when a different treatment is more likely to help.

What Happens During Hip Stem Cell Treatment?

The process mirrors our other stem cell joint injections: an evaluation and imaging review, collection of cells from your own bone marrow or fat, same-day processing to concentrate the cells, and an image-guided injection into the hip joint. It is typically completed as an outpatient procedure.

Afterward, temporary soreness at the collection and injection sites is common. Across knee studies, a 2024 systematic review found transient reactions in about 12% of patients, usually resolving within a week, with no serious complications reported in the short term. Hip-specific safety data are more limited but have also been reassuring so far. Your physician will explain how much weight-bearing and activity are appropriate in the days after treatment.

What Should You Ask About Your Hip?

Before deciding on any treatment, it helps to get clear answers to a few questions:

  • Is my pain coming from the hip joint, the surrounding tendons, or my lower back?
  • What grade is my arthritis on imaging?
  • What does the evidence show for the hip specifically, rather than the knee?
  • Will the injection be guided by fluoroscopy or ultrasound?
  • What would make hip replacement a better option for me?

Because hip-area pain can also come from the SI joint or the lower back, a thorough evaluation is essential before any treatment.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is stem cell therapy for hips FDA-approved?

No. The FDA has not approved any stem cell product for orthopedic conditions, including hip pain or hip osteoarthritis. That’s why California requires a specific notice for patients considering these therapies.

Cells collected from your own bone marrow or fat are concentrated and injected into the hip joint under imaging guidance, typically fluoroscopy or ultrasound, because the hip sits deep in the body.

Some patients hope to delay surgery, but there isn’t enough long-term hip research yet to say how reliably that happens. For severe arthritis, hip replacement remains the established treatment.

No. The knee has more than two dozen randomized trials, while reviews of hip research describe small, mostly uncontrolled studies and few or no completed randomized trials.

Improvement, when it occurs, tends to be gradual over weeks to months. Your physician will schedule follow-up to track your progress and adjust your rehabilitation plan.

Yes. Hip osteoarthritis and lower back problems are both common and can occur together, which is why a careful exam and imaging review are needed to sort out which one is driving your symptoms.

Most patients experience temporary soreness at the injection and collection sites. Numbing medication is used during the procedure, and discomfort usually settles within about a week.

Curious whether your hip is a good candidate? Schedule a free phone consultation with our team.