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The hip is one of your body's largest weight-bearing joints. It consists of two main parts: a ball (femoral head) at the top of your thighbone (femur) that fits into a rounded socket (acetabulum) in your pelvis. Bands of tissue called ligaments connect the ball to the socket and provide stability to the joint.
The bone surfaces of your ball and socket have a smooth durable cover of articular cartilage that cushions the ends of the bones and enables them to move easily.
All remaining surfaces of the hip joint are covered by a thin, smooth tissue called synovial membrane. In a healthy hip, this membrane makes a small amount of fluid that lubricates and almost eliminates friction in your hip joint.
Normally, all of these parts of your hip work in harmony, allowing you to move easily and without pain. |
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Osteoarthritis usually occurs after age 50 and often in an individual with a family history of arthritis. In this form of the disease, the articular cartilage cushioning the bones of the hip wears away. The bones then rub against each other, causing hip pain and stiffness.
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Rheumatoid arthritis is a disease in which the synovial membrane becomes inflamed, triggering an attack on the articular cartilage, leading to pain and stiffness.
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Avascular necrosis occurs when the blood supply to the ball of the hip joint is damaged. The ball portion of the femur bone may die and eventually weaken or even collapse. Avascular necrosis of the hip occurs because most of the weight is concentrated in this area. As a result of the flattening, the ball no longer fits perfectly inside the socket causing the joint to wear itself out. This leads to osteoarthritis of the hip joint. The same process can occur in the knee and shoulder.
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Post-traumatic arthritis can follow a serious hip injury or fracture. The articular cartilage becomes damaged and, over time, causes hip pain and stiffness.
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If your arthritis does not respond to non-operative or less-invasive treatments, you may be a candidate for Total Hip Replacement Surgery.
Learn more about this procedure here. |
