Hip osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis, known as “degenerative arthritis,” is a prevalent condition that affects many people over the years and the elderly. It can occur in any joint of the body, although it most commonly occurs in weight-bearing joints, such as the hip.

Osteoarthritis of the hip causes discomfort and gradually severe stiffness. It can make the quality of the patient’s daily life difficult as he discovers that simple routine movements such as, bending over to tie a shoe or a short walk are a cause of pain and difficulty.

Because osteoarthritis gets worse over time, the sooner you start treatment, the more likely you are to be able to reduce the impact it has on your life. Although there is no complete cure for osteoarthritis because it involves an irreversible evolutionary course of physical (or non-physical wear), there are many treatment options available to help you manage pain and stay active.

The hip is one of the largest joints in the body. The acetabulum, which is part of the bone of the large pelvis, forms the socket. On the other hand is the femoral head, which is the upper end of the femur.

The surfaces of these two bones are covered by articular cartilage, a smooth, slippery substance that facilitates movement without friction between them

The articular membrane is a thin lining that covers the surface of the joint. The synovial hymen in a healthy hip produces a small amount of fluid that lubricates the cartilage and aids in mobility.

Osteoarthritis is a type of degenerative arthritis that mainly affects adults over the age of 50.

The cartilage in the hip joint eventually wears out, becomes rough and hard, and the protective space of the joint between the bones shrinks. This can cause the bones to rub. To compensate for the loss of cartilage, injured bones may begin to expand outwards, forming bone extensions (osteophytes).

Osteoarthritis progresses gradually and the pain it causes intensifies over time.

• Natural aging
• Hereditary factors
• Hip joint injury in the past
• Obesity
• Hip dysplasia (congenital)

Even if you don’t have any of the risk factors listed above, you may still get osteoarthritis.

Pain is the most common sign of hip osteoarthritis. This discomfort in the hip increases slowly and increases over time, but it can also occur suddenly.

The pain and stiffness may be worse in the morning or after a period of sitting or resting. Painful symptoms may become more common over time, even when you’re resting or sleeping. Other symptoms may include:

• Pain in the groin or thighs extending to your buttocks or knee
• Pain that gets worse with exercise
• Anisoskelia
• Stiffness of the hip joint that makes it difficult to walk and bend
• The “locking” or “sticking” of the joint, as well as a squeaking sound during movement
• Reduced hip range of motion, which affects walking ability and can lead to lameness

There are several treatment methods that can relieve pain and improve mobility.

Non-Surgical Treatment

Early treatment of osteoarthritis of the hip, like other arthritic diseases, is non-surgical. Your doctor can advise you on a variety of alternative non-surgical treatments.

Lifestyle changes. Some lifestyle changes help protect your hip joint and slow the progression of osteoarthritis.

Avoid activities that aggravate the disease, such as climbing stairs.

Weight loss can reduce tension in the hip joint, resulting in less pain and improved function.

Physical therapy. Some exercises can help you expand your range of motion and flexibility while strengthening your hip and leg muscles. Your doctor or physiotherapist can assist you in developing a personalized exercise program that is tailored to your specific needs and lifestyle.

Aids: Using walking aids such as a cane, bacteria (crutches), or walker can help improve mobility and independence.

Medications: your doctor can evaluate and prescribe the appropriate medication in your treatment plan.

Surgery

If your arthritis pain causes complete or partially severe difficulty in movement and is not relieved in the aforementioned ways, surgery is the most appropriate solution.

Total Hip Arthroplasty Surgery. Your doctor will remove both, the damaged acetabulum and femoral head and then replace them with artificial joints to restore hip function.

It is important for the patient to know that the evolution of modern minimally invasive orthopedic surgery gives us the opportunity to have personalized grafts that will not alter the pre-existing anatomy of the hip and consequently the structure of the body in this area.