Hip Osteoarthritis

Hip osteoarthritis is a common degenerative condition. In osteoarthritis there is drying of the synovial fluid in the joint and a gradual wearing away of the hyaline cartilage covering of the bone ends, normally occurring over a period of years together with amongst other changes, in severe cases, the presence of osteophytes or extra outgrowths of bone around the edges of the joint.

Hips like this can also be very painful, with pain being distributed deep inside the joint and commonly down the front of the thigh to the knee.





There is a tendency to walk with limp, characterised by leaning towards the painful hip when the weight is on the leg. Movement tends to become restricted particularly affecting rotation, abduction (movement to the side) and extension (behind).

Treatment

The common treatments for early osteoarthritis of the hip are analgesic and anti-inflammatory medication. This can be supplemented by physical therapy intervention. The aims of this are to help with the pain via various methods and to help maintain as much normal movement, muscle power and functional ability as possible.

Advanced osteoarthritis of the hip is treated by joint replacement therapy. This is extremely advanced today and the results of surgery are generally excellent with patients living very full and active lives for many years post surgery.

Even in the cases requiring surgery the best results are obtained by those patients who have retained as much movement and muscle power as possible through the correct rehabilitative programme. Normally these prograams can be simply and easily be performed at home in a few minutes everyday.