Special Test

Harris Hip Score

Last updated on: November 15, 2025

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Harris Hip Score Items
References

Harris Hip Score (HHS) is a validated tool used to measure the functional capacity of a patient with hip pathology, before and after a surgical procedure. It’s the most common scoring technique used traditionally for hip pathology.

The Harris hip score can be used by a physician or a physiotherapist to study the clinical outcome of hip replacement.

The higher the total Harris Hip Score, the lower the level of disability.

See Also: Hip Joint Osteoarthritis

Harris Hip Score Items

Pain:

Pain Description	Score
None or ignores it	44
Slight, occasional, no compromise in activities	40
Mild pain, no effect on average activities, moderate pain with unusual activities, may take aspirin	30
Moderate pain, tolerable but makes concessions, some limitation of ordinary activity, occasional pain medicine stronger than aspirin	20
Marked pain, serious limitation of activity	10
Totally disabled, crippled, pain in bed, bedridden	0

Function/ Gait

Function	Description	Score
Distance Walked	Unlimited	11
	4–6 blocks	8
	2–3 blocks	5
	Indoors only	2
	Unable to walk	0
Limp	None	11
	Slight	8
	Moderate	5
	Severe	0
Support	None	11
	Cane for long walks	7
	Cane most of the time	5
	One crutch	3
	Two canes	2
	Two crutches	0
	Not able to walk	0

See Also: WOMAC Osteoarthritis Index

Function/ Activities

Stairs	Normally without rail	4
	Normally with rail	2
	In any manner	1
	Unable to do stairs	0
Shoes & Socks	With ease	4
	With difficulty	2
	Unable	0
Sitting	Comfortable in ordinary chair 1 hr	5
	On a high chair for 1⁄2 hr	3
	Unable to sit comfortably	0
Enter Public Transportation		1

Deformity

4 points for each of the following present

<30° flexion contracture	4
<10° adduction contracture	4
<10° abduction contracture	4
<3.2 cm leg-length discrepancy	4

Range of Motion

Flexion	0–45° (1.0 point per degree) + 0.6 points/degree from 45°–90° + 0.3 points/degree from 90°–110°
Abduction	0–15° (0.8 points per degree) + 0.3 points/degree from 15°–20°
External Rotation (in ext)	0–15° (0.4 points per degree)
Adduction	0–15° (0.2 points per degree)

References

Harris, WH. Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery, 51-A(4):737–755, 1969.
Söderman P, Malchau H. Is the Harris hip score system useful to study the outcome of total hip replacement? Clin Orthop Relat Res. 2001 Mar;(384):189-97. doi: 10.1097/00003086-200103000-00022. PMID: 11249165.