Coxarthrosis is nothing more than degeneration of the hip joint. The disease is the most commonly diagnosed disease of the hip joints in adults. Degenerations in the joint are irreversible and very often lead to joint damage. Fortunately, a joint damaged by a disease can be replaced with an artificial one.

Coxarthrosisthat isdegeneration of the hip jointis the gradual and irreversible destruction of articular cartilage and other tissues that make up the hip joint. Sick cartilage loses its shock-absorbing and friction-reducing properties for the bones that make up the joint. Bone spurs (osteophytes) are formed on the surface of the bones, which restrict movement and accelerate the destruction of the joint.

Coxarthrosis (degeneration of the hip joint): causes

Changes in the hip joint are divided into primary and secondary.

The cause of primary degeneration is not well known. Specialists suspect that they arise when the metabolism of the articular cartilage is disturbed or there is a change in the composition of the synovial fluid. In both cases, the cartilage is malnourished.

Structural defects are among the secondary causes of coxarthrosis. An improperly built joint has a too shallow socket, i.e. a depression in the pelvis. When the joint is moved, part of the femoral head slips beyond the acetabulum, and this leads to joint damage. The disease is also conducive to:

  • high cholesterol and triglycerides
  • diabetes
  • overweight
  • microtrauma resulting from overloading the joint, e.g. while lifting
  • bone and joint diseases, including rheumatoid arthritis
  • injuries sustained during a fall or playing sports

Coxarthrosis: symptoms of hip joint degeneration

The first symptom of hip degeneration is pain in the groin and hip when standing up and walking. It often radiates down to the knee.

When the disease develops, pain also occurs when lying down. The joint becomes less and less mobile, and the patient begins to limp in order to avoid pain.

Pain can be felt all over the hip and thigh. It can only appear on the front of the thigh and radiate to the knee.

Apart from the pain in the degenerative hip joint, it is also gradualmobility restrictions. First, mobility within internal rotation is restricted, then hyperextension is restricted, and then abduction and adduction movements are restricted.

In very advanced coking disorders, the limb may be functionally shortened.

None of the symptoms should be. Already at the first symptoms, you must tell your doctor about it, because similar ailments can also occur in other diseases, such as:

  • pain syndromes in the lumbar spine
  • Ankylosing Spondylitis
  • aseptic necrosis of the femoral head
  • bone tuberculosis

As soon as the first symptoms of the disease appear, start relieving the joint - lose weight, walk on a stick held in your hand on the "he althy side", use physical therapy treatments and exercise regularly to improve the joint and strengthen the surrounding muscles .

In periods of increased pain, you can, after agreeing the type of preparation with your doctor, take non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, and even better only painkillers (paracetamol, metamizol, tramadol).

With a significantly advanced joint degeneration, the only effective way to restore its efficiency is to implant an endoprosthesis.

Coxarthrosis: what research is worth doing?

In order to diagnose osteoarthritis, a rheumatologist often only needs to interview the patient and check the mobility of the joints.

To confirm the diagnosis, the doctor orders a bone X-ray. In the photos, he can see, among others narrowing the joint space, i.e. the space where the cartilages of the bones that make up the joint meet and - if they are - bone spurs, i.e. osteophytes.

Sometimes a blood test and a urine test are done to rule out other joint diseases, such as gout.

Coxarthrosis: treatment of hip joint degeneration

  • Endoprosthesis, or what

This is an artificial joint that consists of a socket (hollow hemisphere) and a ball ending in a pin. There are many types of hip replacement. They can be divided into total and partial.

If a total endoprosthesis is placed, both the acetabulum and the femoral head must be replaced with artificial elements. With a partial endoprosthesis, only the femoral head is removed and a prosthesis is placed in its place. The natural cup remains intact.

The method of attaching artificial joints has changed over the years. Initially, the so-called bone cement, but it turned out to be harmful to the body. He was replaced by acrylic cement, which he also hada lot of flaws.

Currently, uncemented dentures are the most commonly used. The outer surface of the prosthesis (socket and stem) is covered with hydroxyapatite, which is a natural mineral component of bone.

The parts of the prosthesis become rough, have a large surface area and, over time, bone grows into their pores. This gives the prosthesis stability. But what type of prosthesis will be used depends on the type of joint changes, the quality of bone tissue and the patient's age.

  • Capoplasty

This is an economical method of hip replacement, as it allows you to keep the natural head and neck of the femur, which guarantees anatomical alignment of the bones, minimizes the risk of dislocation and allows you to quickly return to an active life.

In capoplasty, the acetabulum in the pelvis is replaced, and a cap is placed on the head of the femur, i.e. a cap resembling a cap. The method can be used when the bones are not decalcified and the joint is not damaged too much by degenerative changes.

The advantage of this solution is that the patient recovers faster and recovers more quickly. In addition, there is no risk of leg length changes, the prosthesis loosening or loss of balance due to body instability.

Putting a cope on the pond is not the final solution. In the event of deterioration of he alth or after an injury, a traditional joint prosthesis can be used.

  • What after surgery?

The basic rule that must be followed after the surgery is to use … common sense, which should be understood as not allowing excessive stress on the joint. However, this does not mean that you should only sit in the chair.

In the first weeks after the operation, it is inadvisable to lie on your side, put your leg on your he althy leg, sit on low chairs, lift weights and sit in the bathtub.

If the toilet seat is not high enough, you can attach handles to make it easier to get up, or even better buy a tall toilet seat cover.

Similarly with the bed. The sleeping area should be high enough so that, while sitting on the edge of the bed, your feet are touching the floor.

During postoperative rehabilitation, all bends and twists of the body should be performed carefully. At home, you must wear soft and full slippers that keep well on the foot. Shoes should have a low, wide and stable heel.

You will also need regular exercise, walking and swimming. You need to move your legs calmly while swimming. You can ride a bike, cross-country skiing, and slide down gentle slopes. It all depends on your overall fitness.

Modernendoprostheses place little restrictions on patients. Postoperative complications occur in a very small number of people.

All types of hip replacement surgery are reimbursed by the National He alth Fund.

Category:

Spine, bones, joints