FYI from the aspect of "education," pain originating from a hip joint disorder can present as "knee pain." More often the patient will complain of "thigh and knee pain" in these circumstances, and may not relate/connect their problem to the hip, and may not complain of "hip pain." It is a "referred pain" situation, i.e., the pain originates in one place (in this case the hip), but is felt somewhere else (the knee). But, I would be skeptical of getting hip X-rays as a "routine" for all patients who come in complaining of "knee pain." This would be a bit of a stretch. In order to justify getting hip X-rays on a patient complaining of knee pain, the physician would have to document historical &/or physical findings to indicate the there is good reason to believe that there is a problem at the hip. The physician would then have to provide a "provisional" diagnosis for the hip that would warrant the hip X-rays. It goes to Medical Necessity.
Respectfully submitted, Alan Pechacek, M.D.
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