Osteoarthritis of the hip joint: causes, treatment, prevention

Arthrosis (arthrosis) of the hip joint is a chronic and progressive pathology in which degenerative-dystrophic processes occur in the area of the joints of the pelvic bones. To be more precise, there is a destruction of the hyaline cartilage that lines the femoral head and the acetabulum, the surfaces of the pelvic bones that are in contact with each other.

The second name of the pathology is coxarthrosis of the hip joints.

Osteoarthritis of the hip joints: features of the disease

Very often, direct knowledge of what coxarthrosis is is reserved for elderly people, mainly women, who run the risk of developing pathologies after 45 years. Such a selective aspect of the pathology arises from the specifics of the structure of the female pelvic bones, as well as from their direct participation in the process of childbirth. In men, osteoarthritis of the hip joints (coxarthrosis) occurs mainly after the age of 65.

An important role in the pathogenesis of coxarthrosis is played by the natural aging of the body, when the most stressed joints of the bones begin to collapse.

In addition, the disease can be triggered by a number of infectious, traumatic and non-inflammatory diseases, their combination. Initially, osteoarthritis manifests itself as pain and a decrease in the activity of movements in the pelvic area, but then its consequences become more serious - the affected limb is shortened.

Disease classification

Types of arthrosis of the hip joint depend on the features of its development and the cause of its occurrence. Often there is post-traumatic osteoarthritis of the hip joint - it appears after an injury. The classification also includes the following types of osteoarthritis:

1. Dysplastic - due to dysplasia that occurred in childhood but was not cured;
2. static - associated with an uneven load on the pelvic area, which occurs with pathologies of the foot, knee, ankle;
3. Post-infectious - appears after various inflammatory diseases;
4. Primary chronic - develops in older people due to aging of the body.

Any type of disease can be called "deforming arthrosis of the hip joint", because the pathology leads to a violation of the shape and appearance of the pelvic joint of the bones.

In addition, the disease is divided into 3 degrees according to the severity of the changes, the symptoms of which are described below in the text.

Reasons for the development of arthrosis

Signs of coxarthrosis can appear even in the absence of obvious prerequisites, due to natural degenerative processes of the joint. It has a tight space, while withstanding huge and constant loads, so it wears out before others. Initially, blood circulation is disturbed in the tissues, so nutrients are supplied to the hyaline cartilage to a lesser extent. Metabolic processes are disturbed, cartilage dries up, cracks are formed on it. In addition, the joint surfaces are quickly worn out, destroyed - osteoarthritis of the hip joint progresses. Symptoms can appear even more quickly if the body is affected by a number of provoking factors:

• Any injury;
• Physical work, heavy sports;
• Diseases of the spine, including curvature;
• flat feet;
• Arthritis against the background of an infectious process;
• Joint dysplasia transferred in childhood;
• metabolic diseases;
• Excess weight;
• Rheumatism and other autoimmune diseases.

Against the background of the influence of such factors, the disease can develop much faster, after 30-40 years.

Coxarthrosis Symptoms

The signs of osteoarthritis of the hip joint largely depend on its degree. During the pathology, three degrees (stages) are distinguished:

1. First degree. There are pains during physical overload - after a long walk, running, in connection with which there are aching and dull sensations in the pelvic area (passes after a short rest). The pain does not radiate to other parts of the leg. Deforming arthrosis of the 1st degree hip joint does not cause changes in gait, the muscles are fully functional. By the end of the phase, slight restrictions on leg movement may appear;
2. Second degree.Pain in arthrosis of the hip joint in this case becomes more pronounced. Pain appears with minimal effort, discomfort is present in the evening after a working day. There are pains at night, at rest. A creak, a feeling of friction in the joint. If a person walks for a long time, swaying movements may be noted in the gait. It becomes difficult to put on shoes, put the foot to the side;
3. Third grade.The work of the pelvic bones is severely impaired (with primary osteoarthritis both joints are affected, with other types, usually only one). Pain in the groin is constant, excruciating, gives to the knee. The thigh muscles are atrophied. The leg becomes shorter, so a person uses crutches and a cane to move.

Ankylosis subsequently occurs, in which movement becomes completely impossible.

Diagnosis of the disease

What is coxarthrosis of the hip joint, what is its degree and how to treat the disease? All problems should be resolved after diagnosis. Despite the fact that the main method of making a diagnosis is radiography, the patient needs the consultations of a number of narrow specialists and tests. This will help find the cause of the disease and act accordingly. Thus, coxarthrosis can be triggered by osteochondrosis, flat feet, urological and gynecological infections, and their treatment will help stop the destruction of the bone joint.

As for the accurate diagnosis and setting of the degree of arthrosis, all changes are perfectly visualized in an image - radiography or CT (MRI):

1. The first degree is a slight narrowing of the gap, the appearance of marginal osteophytes;
2. Second degree - narrowing of the joint space by 50% of the norm, the appearance of osteophytes on the outer and inner sides of the space, deformity of the femoral head, often - the presence of inflammatory changes in the tissues near the bone joint;
3. The third degree is a strong deformity of the joint, the presence of large osteophytes, zones of sclerosis.

Treatment of arthrosis

Conservative treatment

Ointments, creams, compresses for osteoarthritis of the hip joint help only in the first stage of the disease. Medicines can completely restore cartilage and it is important to start therapy at an early stage. Usually used NSAIDs, corticosteroids, chondroprotectors, hyaluronic acid-based drugs, muscle relaxants. They also practice massage, physical therapy and therapeutic exercises.

At the second stage, it is necessary to connect physiotherapy and mechanical methods of affecting the joint. These include fume hood, UHF, magnetotherapy, shock wave therapy, ultrasound, laser, inductothermy, electrophoresis. Folk remedies for osteoarthritis of the hip joint, like local drugs, are only of secondary importance, and the main method of therapy should be drugs.

Be sure to apply a diet for coxarthrosis of the hip joint, it is necessary to normalize metabolism and improve cartilage nutrition.

Endoprosthesis for osteoarthritis

The third stage of the disease can only be treated surgically. The patient is advised to have joint replacement surgery or arthroplasty. The surgeon cuts the head of the femoral bone, inserts a metal pin into the cut, on which the artificial head is fixed. After the operation, a long rehabilitation and physical therapy is performed, but then the hip joint will work completely and the doctor will be able to answer the patient in the affirmative to the question of whether it is possible to squat with osteoarthritis of the hip joint.

Disease prevention

To prevent osteoarthritis of the hip joint, sport and a healthy lifestyle must be at the fore. It is impossible to overload the joints, but it is necessary to eliminate hypodynamics. Good for walking, swimming, skiing, elliptical. It is also important to lose weight and eat right.

The prevention of osteoarthritis of the hip joint is also based on the early treatment of any bruises, injuries that affect the pelvis and spine. In infancy, all congenital joint pathologies should also be eliminated.

Answers to popular questions

• Who to contact with arthritis? The question of which doctor treats coxarthrosis of the hip joint does not have a definitive answer. Of course, it is initially recommended to contact a surgeon, traumatologist or orthopedist, which depends on the capabilities of the clinic. In specialized centers, an arthrologist deals with problems of the pelvic joints, but it is not always possible to find such a narrow specialist.

  Depending on the cause of the disease, in the future, in parallel, you will have to apply and undergo treatment under the supervision of a rheumatologist, neurologist, infectious disease specialist and numerous other doctors;

• Can arthritis be cured? This disease is chronic and it is impossible to get rid of it completely, especially since the main cause is aging. But if you see a doctor when there is arthrosis of the 1st degree of the hip joint, you can cure all existing changes and thus prevent rapid progression. In the later stages, it is possible to stop and correct all existing pathological changes and live normally thanks to regular courses of therapy. Only arthroplasty can save the joint from arthrosis, but it also has a number of disadvantages - from the need for periodic replacement of the prosthesis to postoperative complications - pain, thrombosis, infection;
• When are local therapies sufficient and in which cases is it possible to avoid a visit to the doctor? Any ointment can only slightly improve blood microcirculation in the joint area, and also relieve pain, but it does not have a therapeutic effect. In addition, this joint is located very deep, which makes it difficult for the active substances to penetrate. Therefore, it is necessary to consult a doctor at any stage of the disease, regardless of the severity of the manifestations. Only at an early stage can the disease be stopped with "little blood" without surgery.

Osteoarthritis of the hip joint is a disabling disease that makes a person paralyzed, preventing him from walking.

The only way to prevent the development of such problems is to start conservative therapy at 1-2 stages of the disease, not forgetting to conduct regular and full-fledged courses.