Post-COVID Surge in Hip Arthritis & AVN: India Sees Rising Joint Damage in Younger Adults
Team L&M
May is observed globally as Arthritis Awareness Month, but this year, orthopaedic experts in India are sounding a sharper alarm. A worrying post-pandemic trend is emerging—an increase in hip arthritis and avascular necrosis (AVN), a condition caused by disrupted blood supply to the femoral head, leading to progressive bone death and joint collapse.
Doctors across major hospitals report a steady rise in younger and middle-aged patients presenting with severe hip pain, stiffness, limping, and mobility loss, many of whom eventually require Total Hip Replacement (THR) surgery.
A Silent Post-COVID Orthopaedic Shift
AVN was traditionally associated with older adults, trauma cases, or long-term risk factors. However, clinicians now say the profile has changed dramatically.
Several global studies have indicated a possible link between high-dose or prolonged steroid use during COVID-19 treatment and the development of osteonecrosis of the femoral head, particularly in patients with underlying metabolic or vascular vulnerabilities.
“Steroids played a life-saving role during the COVID pandemic, but indiscriminate or prolonged use in some patients has been associated with a rise in osteonecrosis and early degenerative changes in the hip joint,” said Dr. L. Tomar, Director, Department of Orthopaedics and Joint Replacement, Max Hospital, New Delhi.
“We are observing a 40% rise in hip replacement surgeries in younger people. We are now seeing relatively younger patients coming with severe hip damage, collapse of the femoral head, and advanced arthritis requiring early hip replacement surgeries,” he adds.
Younger Patients Now at Risk
Orthopaedic experts say AVN is increasingly affecting individuals in their 30s and 40s, a demographic shift that is raising concern in clinical practice.
In many cases, the disease progresses silently until the hip joint collapses, leaving total hip replacement as the only viable option to restore movement and quality of life.
According to specialists, the rise is not driven by a single cause. Instead, it is a combination of post-COVID complications and modern lifestyle risks.
Says Dr. Tomar, “India is witnessing a silent rise in hip disability due to a combination of post-COVID complications, obesity, sedentary lifestyle, trauma, alcohol consumption, and increasing life expectancy. Early diagnosis is critical because if AVN is detected in the initial stages, joint-preserving procedures may still be possible.”
When Early Symptoms Go Ignored
One of the biggest clinical challenges is delayed diagnosis. Early symptoms such as groin pain, stiffness, or mild discomfort are often ignored or mistaken for muscle strain.
This delay allows the disease to progress to irreversible stages. “Patients often ignore early symptoms such as groin pain or stiffness, assuming it to be muscular pain,” says Dr. Karun Jain.
“By the time they seek medical advice, the hip joint may already have undergone irreversible collapse. Awareness, timely MRI evaluation, and early intervention can help reduce disability,” he adds.
Lifestyle Disease Meets Orthopaedics
Experts also highlight that hip arthritis and AVN are no longer confined to post-trauma or elderly populations. Rising obesity, sedentary habits, metabolic disorders, and lack of physical activity are accelerating joint degeneration in urban India.
International orthopaedic research has also shown that steroid-induced AVN can develop within months of exposure, with the hip being the most commonly affected joint.
Advances in Hip Replacement Surgery
The doctors say that there have been significant advancements in orthopaedics, including:
- Robotic and navigation-assisted hip surgery
- Minimally invasive joint replacement techniques
- Complex primary and revision arthroplasty
- Infection prevention strategies
- Faster rehabilitation protocols
- Improved implant designs for long-term durability
“Total Hip Replacement today is among the most successful surgeries in modern orthopaedics,” says Dr. Gaurav Govil, senior orthopaedic surgeon.
“With better implants, advanced surgical planning, and faster rehabilitation techniques, patients are able to return to normal life much earlier than before. However, the focus must remain on early diagnosis and evidence-based treatment to prevent avoidable disability,” he adds.
A Growing Public Health Concern
Experts warn that India could see a substantial rise in hip replacement surgeries over the next decade if preventive orthopaedic care and early screening are not strengthened.
They stress the need for:
- Greater public awareness of persistent hip pain
- Responsible steroid use under medical supervision
- Early MRI-based diagnosis
- Wider access to orthopaedic consultation
- Stronger rehabilitation and preventive care systems
And, as in all other health issues, early detection is the most powerful tool to prevent permanent joint damage. Hip health is no longer an ageing concern—it is becoming a young adult health priority in India.
