Hip Ultrasound, Cardiff & South Wales
Self-refer. Consultant-led. Results explained at your appointment.
hip ultrasound
What's included
- ✓Consultant Radiologist scan, with findings explained as they go
- ✓Written report within 24-48 hours
- ✓Digital scan images
- ✓Onward referral if needed
- ✓No GP referral required
The hip
Ultrasound of the hip is best for the soft tissues around the joint, particularly the gluteal tendons and the bursa on the outside of the hip. For the joint surface itself and the labrum, MRI is the better test.
Gluteal tendons
Gluteus medius and minimus, the rotator cuff of the hip.
Trochanteric bursa
The bursa on the point of the hip.
Hip joint (anterior)
Effusion and synovitis in the front of the joint.
Iliopsoas tendon
Snapping hip at the front.
Iliopsoas bursa
Bursitis deep in the groin.
Iliotibial band
Lateral snapping over the trochanter.
Adductor origin
Groin strains. See our groin scan.
Any lump
Characterisation of a lump around the hip.
Reasons to book a hip scan
What we can identify
Ultrasound is the ideal first test for pain on the outside of the hip, and it lets us watch a snapping hip happen in real time.
Gluteal tendinopathy and tears
The main cause of greater trochanteric pain syndrome.
Trochanteric bursitis
Inflammation of the bursa on the point of the hip.
Snapping hip
Iliopsoas at the front or the iliotibial band on the side, seen live as you move.
Hip joint effusion
Fluid in the front of the joint, a sign of synovitis or arthritis.
Iliopsoas bursitis
A deep cause of groin pain and clicking.
Adductor tendinopathy
A groin strain at the tendon origin. See our sports injury scan.
Gluteal tendinopathy and trochanteric bursitis often respond to an ultrasound-guided injection, which we can do in the same visit. If your pain is deep in the joint or we suspect a labral tear or arthritis, we will advise an MRI or X-ray.
Preparation
How to prepare
No special preparation. We need to reach the outside and front of the hip, and enough room for you to move it while we scan, which is how we catch a snapping hip.
If the pain is worse in a particular position, tell us when you arrive so we can scan you that way.
Your appointment, step by step
Arrive
Free street parking at Penarth, and a 5-minute walk from Penarth railway station.
Meet your consultant
A short chat about your symptoms, where the pain sits and what brings it on. Ask anything you like.
The scan (30 mins)
You lie on your back and then on your side. Warm gel goes on the front and the outside of the hip, and the consultant may ask you to move the leg so a snapping hip can be seen as it happens.
Results on the day
The consultant explains the findings while scanning and again at the end, so you leave knowing what is going on. The written report follows within 24-48 hours.
Had been waiting ages on the NHS to get a scan... so when I saw this service available on the high street I was surprised. Scan was organised for the same week, totally worth it. Actually got a diagnosis for once. Dr Junaid was very thorough and explained everything.
Transparent, all-inclusive
One price for one hip. If both hips are troubling you, we scan them in the same appointment for £360.
Hip Ultrasound
- ✓One side £260, both sides £360
- ✓Results explained on the day, written report in 24-48 hrs
- ✓Same-week appointment
- ✓No GP referral required
2 area scan
- ✓Two body areas scanned in one visit
- ✓e.g. hip plus the groin or thigh
- ✓Save £160 vs two separate scans
- ✓Same-week appointment
3 area scan
- ✓Three body areas scanned in one visit
- ✓Add which areas in your booking notes
- ✓Save £381 vs three separate scans
- ✓Same-week appointment
Booking a two or three-area scan? Please add which areas you'd like scanned in your booking notes. Not all practitioners scan every area, so our reception may call to confirm and make sure the right consultant is on for your appointment.
All prices include consultation, scan, written report, digital images and any onward referral if required. Injections are charged separately.
Our Penarth clinic
Patients travel to us from Cardiff, Newport, Bridgend, Barry, Caerphilly, Swansea and the Vale.
Common questions about hip ultrasound
How much does a private hip ultrasound cost?
£260 for one side, £360 for both sides in the same appointment.
Can ultrasound diagnose the cause of my hip pain?
For pain on the outside of the hip, usually yes. Ultrasound is very good for the gluteal tendons and the trochanteric bursa, which cause most lateral hip pain. For pain deep in the joint or in the groin, it has limits, and we may recommend an MRI.
Ultrasound or MRI for the hip?
Ultrasound is excellent for the soft tissues on the outside of the hip and for a snapping hip, which it shows moving. MRI is better for the joint surface, the labrum, the bone and deep structures. We will tell you honestly if MRI is the test you need.
Can you see arthritis of the hip?
Ultrasound can show a joint effusion and secondary signs, but it cannot see the joint surface directly. An X-ray is the standard test for hip arthritis, and we can arrange one if needed.
Do I need a GP referral?
No, this is a self-referral scan. You can book online.
Can I get an injection at the same visit?
Often yes. We inject the trochanteric bursa, the gluteal tendons and the hip joint under ultrasound guidance. There is a separate charge, listed on our injection therapy page.
How long does the scan take?
About 30 minutes per side.
Can you assess a snapping hip?
Yes. Because the scan is dynamic, we can watch the tendon snap as you move the leg and tell whether it is the iliopsoas at the front or the iliotibial band on the side.
Is the scan painful?
No. It is gentle probe pressure with warm gel, and we work around the most tender area.
Is ultrasound safe?
Yes. There is no radiation involved.
Will I get a written report?
Yes. The findings are explained at your appointment, and a written consultant report follows within 24-48 hours.
Where do I go?
Acorn Private Clinic at Penarth (CF64 2AD), 10 minutes from Cardiff city centre.
Get the answers you need.
Self-refer for a private hip ultrasound. Consultant-led, same-week, with results explained at your appointment and a written report within 24-48 hours. £260 all-inclusive.