Hip Osteoarthritis
Description:
The hip joint is a ball and socket joint composed of two bones: the ball (femur) and the socket (pelvis). The ends of each of these bones is covered by a smooth Teflon-like layer of tissue called articular cartilage. This layer allows these bones to glide smoothly over each other during hip motion.
Osteoarthritis, the most common form of arthritis, occurs when this articular cartilage gradually wears away and the joint space narrows and becomes irregular. In addition to the loss of cartilage that occurs in arthritis, bone spurs often develop in the bones of the hip joint.
Signs & Symptoms:
Patients with arthritis of the hip typically report pain in the groin region. The pain is worse with weight-bearing activities, such as walking or prolonged standing. It may be difficult to rise from a seated position, such as a car seat. Patients may also notice a grinding sensation with hip movement. As the arthritis progresses, there may be a loss of range of motion in the hip. Some patients complain of pain associated with weather changes.
Diagnosis:
The diagnosis of osteoarthritis of the hip is typically made by a combination of the patient’s history, the findings on physical examination, and x-rays.
Treatment:
Treatment for osteoarthritis of the hip depends upon the severity of the arthritis and the patients symptoms. Initially non-surgical treatment methods are recommended; options include: activity modifications, weight loss for patients who are overweight, use of assistive devices (such as a cane or a walker), and medications (such as Tylenol or anti-inflammatory medications). If these options fail to control the symptoms, steroid (cortisone) injections into the hip may be attempted. If these injections are unsuccessful, hip replacement surgery may be recommended. In this surgery, the arthritic ends of the bones are cut away and replaced by metal and plastic components. The surgeons at Arizona Orthopedic Surgical Specialists perform this procedure using some of the latest cutting-edge techniques, including obtaining an MRI scan to customize the hip implants to your body’s dimensions.
For more information about osteoarthritis of the hip and treatment options, please feel free to talk to one of the doctors at Arizona Orthopedic Surgical Specialists.