• Avascular necrosis (AVN) is another cause of degeneration of the hip joint. The femoral head loses a portion of its blood supply and actually dies. This leads to collapse of the femoral head and degeneration of the joint. Avascular necrosis has been linked to alcoholism, fractures and dislocations of the hip and long-term cortisone treatment for other diseases.
• Fracture / Dislocation . OA of the hip can be caused by a hip injury earlier in life. Changes in the movement and alignment of the hip eventually lead to wear and tear on the joint surfaces. The alignment of the hip can be altered from a fracture in the bones around or inside the hip. If the fracture changes the alignment of the hip, this can lead to excessive wear and tear, just like the out-of-balance tire that wears out too soon on your car. Cartilage injuries, infection, or bleeding within the joint can also damage the joint surface of the hip.
• Rheumatoid arthritis always affects not only the joints of the hands (such as the knuckle joints), wrists, elbows, knees, ankles, and/or feet but also the larger joints, such as hips may be affected.
Diagnosis:
The diagnosis of hip OA starts with a complete history and physical examination by your doctor. He or she may also recommend:
• X-rays which will be required to determine the extent of the cartilage damage and suggest a possible cause of it.
• Blood tests which may help to rule out other causes of joint pain, such as rheumatoid arthritis
Treatment:
• Nonsurgical Treatment
• Find activities that don't require you to use your joint repeatedly.
• Exercise. With your doctor's approval, get regular exercise when you feel up to it. Exercise can increase your endurance and strengthen the muscles around your joint, making your joint more stable.
• Your physician may prescribe medicine to help control your pain. If you aren't able to get your symptoms under control, a cortisone injection may be prescribed.
• Physical therapy: a primary goal is to help you learn how to control symptoms and maximize the health of your hip. Range-of-motion and stretching exercises will be used to improve hip motion.
• Surgery
In some cases, surgical treatment of OA may be appropriate.
Hip replacement is usually considered once other therapies, such as pain medications, have failed. Most people undergo hip replacement as a result of osteoarthritis of the hip joint. But you might also consider hip replacement if you experience severe pain, loss of motion or deformity of your hip joint. |
