Hip Arthritis Conditions
What is arthritis of the hip joint?
The hip joint is a commonly affected joint by many conditions which lead to wear of the cartilage surface that cover the femoral head and the acetabulum of the pelvis. While osteoarthritis is the commonest cause for the development of hip arthritis, many other conditions such as a group of conditions called inflammatory arthritis, of which a common condition is rheumatoid arthritis. There are many other conditions that are less common causes of hip arthritis such as trauma, childhood hip conditions, hip joint infections (septic arthritis) and avascular necrosis– where a part of the femoral head dies due to a lack in blood supply, leaving the overlying cartilage with no support and leading to collapse.
Osteoarthritis
It is characterized by progressive wearing away of the cartilage of the joint. As the protective cartilage wears down, the bone ends rub against each other and cause pain in the hip.
Rheumatoid arthritis
This is an autoimmune disease in which the tissue lining the joint (synovium) becomes inflamed, resulting in the production of excessive joint fluid (synovial fluid). This leads to loss of cartilage causing pain and stiffness.
Traumatic arthritis
This is a type of arthritis resulting from a hip injury or fracture. Such injuries can damage the cartilage and cause hip pain and stiffness over a period.
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Who is affected by hip arthritis?
Younger patients who have hip arthritis in their 30s and 40s usually have a history of childhood hip conditions such as hip dysplasia (childhood hip dislocation), Perthes disease or slipped upper femoral epiphysis; or conditions of abnormal joint anatomy, Femoro-Acetabular Impingement (FAI).
A family history of arthritis, obesity, some occupations such as farmers and laborers.
What are the symptoms of hip arthritis?
The common symptoms in hip arthritis are:
- A dull deep ache in the front (anterior) aspect of the hip joint. This is usually located to the groin and may radiate down the front of the thigh and all the way down to the knee. Knee pain that originates from the hip is known as referred pain.
- Sometimes hip pain can radiate through to the back and manifest as buttock pain, however, buttock pain is also commonly caused by referred back pain and compression on the nerve roots in the lumbar spine. Frequently, the two conditions, lumbar spine arthritis and hip joint arthritis, can coexist and it is sometimes hard to tell the cause of the symptoms apart. Contrary to popular belief, pain at the side of the hip is not usually from the hip joint itself, rather, it is caused by other conditions like inflammation of the tendons (tendinitis) or the overlying bursa (bursitis).
- There may be pain with increased activity, such as walking, prolonged standing, going up and down stairs or even getting out of a seated position. Patients may also experience stiffness in the hip joint and eventually contractures of the joint may set in. These symptoms may lead to a decrease in mobility and ambulation. Patients may need a walking aid and may not be able to walk as far. They may have difficulties in activities of general living, such as dressing themselves and putting on socks and shoes.
Hip Arthritis Treatments
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