Hip osteoarthritis is a common source of chronic joint pain and functional limitation. Standard analgesic management often relies on non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, but not every patient can use them safely or obtain sufficient relief from them.
This protocol addresses the specific clinical situation in which a patient with hip osteoarthritis has a contraindication to NSAIDs, cannot tolerate them, or has not achieved adequate pain control with them — and an alternative oral analgesic approach is being considered.
Opioids, including tramadol, are generally not recommended, though guidelines did acknowledge that in some cases, such as in instances of contraindications, intolerance to, or inadequate response to NSAIDs, tramadol can be considered for pain relief in the absence of other viable options.