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Hip Arthritis

Hip Arthritis

OVERVIEW

Hip arthritis is a condition where the cartilage of the hip joint wears out, leaving a rough surface which rubs during activity.  This leads to inflammation and pain.  It has a variety of causes, and gradually worsens over time.  If untreated it can cause problems with walking, muscle weakness, stiffness and low back pain.

ANATOMY

The hip is a ball-and-socket joint. The socket is formed by the spherical acetabulum, which is part of the pelvis. The ball is the femoral head, which is the upper end of the femur (thighbone).  The acetabulum is ringed by strong cartilage called the labrum. The labrum forms a gasket around the socket, creating a tight seal and helping to provide stability to the joint.  In hip arthritis, all these structures degenerate and contribute to the formation of hip pain.

Arthritis

Hip arthritis is the degeneration (wearing out) of the hip joint, with loss of the cartilage which results in pain, stiffness, pain and reduced mobility.  Arthritis can cause cysts (holes in the bones), bone spurs (osteophytes), shortening of the leg (due to cartilage and bone loss), and muscle shrinkage and weakness.  Arthritis can initially be very mild and symptoms can be very mild, as the hip can slowly wear over many years, similar to tyres on a car.  However, often there may be an event or injury which can cause a rapid worsening of symptoms.

Over time, as hip arthritis progresses and the hip becomes stiff, this can place additional stress upon the low back, and can contribute to low back pain and degeneration.

There are a variety of causes of hip arthritis including:

It is important that the cause of your hip arthritis is understood to evaluate the risk to your other hip, and also to potentially counsel other members of your family to their risk of hip disease and prevention strategies.

Orthopaedic surgeon Melbourne
In a healthy hip, the femoral head fits perfectly into the acetabulum.
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