What is this disease with such a complicated name - coxarthrosis? This disease is a deforming arthrosis of the hip joint and is often also called osteoarthritis of the hip joint.
Currently, coxarthrosis is a leader among diseases of the musculoskeletal system, which have a degenerative-dystrophic nature. There are many causes that contribute to coxarthrosis and therefore the disease is widespread in all age groups.
Coxarthrosis refers to osteoarthritis that is not inflammatory in nature, in which there are initially degenerative-dystrophic changes in the cartilage of the hip joint, which outlines the surfaces of the articulating bones, and in later stages bone changes occur directly. Therefore, in the course of such a gradually developing course of coxarthrosis there is a violation of the naturally normal functions of the affected hip joint, which ultimately leads to dysfunction of the musculoskeletal system of the patient as a hole.
For the most part, osteoarthritis of the hip affects people over the age of forty. Of course, coxarthrosis, like other diseases, can be treated successfully without surgery, but only in its early stages. But in the later stages it can hardly be done without surgery and only one thing can help avoid damage - prosthetics of the joint affected by coxarthrosis. Unfortunately, people with coxarthrosis who do not pay attention to mild hip pain in the early stages of the disease avoid seeing a doctor, and osteoarthritis of the hip, meanwhile, continues to progress day by day, gradually progressing to a more advanced form.
How does coxarthrosis develop?
Let's look at the mechanism of development of coxarthrosis. And let's start with the fact that the hip joint consists of two bones:
- the end of the femur itself, ball-like;
- acetabulum, similar to a small billiard pocket located in the iliac part of the pelvis;
- special articular cartilage on the surface of both bones, resembling a sponge-like substance and necessary as a shock absorber, compressed during movement and straightened in the absence;
- as well as the ligaments that form the cavity of the hip joint itself and thus form the joint capsule.
In addition, there is muscle tissue around the joint, such as the thigh, gluteal and other muscles, on the functionality of which the condition of the hip joint depends.
In the course of movement, when the articular cartilage is compressed, a specific fluid is "squeezed" from it into the joint, which is a kind of lubricant for the bones that articulate in the joint. the joint, being an excellent shock absorber during movements.
The very appearance of the disease with coxarthrosis is due primarily to the fact that the nutrition of the cartilage of the hip joint is impaired. The cartilage becomes thinner and then disappears in places. If no measures are taken to stop this process, then in those places where the cartilage atrophy described above occurs, the bone itself will grow directly, thus trying to "fill" the resulting void in the joint cavity. As a result of such bone changes, osteophytes, ie "spikes" on the bone, begin to appear. These deformations, in turn, lead to disruption of the congruence of the bones articulated in the hip joint and subsequent "receipt" of other healthy areas of articular cartilage.
Causes of osteoarthritis of the hip
The causes of coxarthrosis in which it occurs can be divided into primary, with unclear etiology, and secondary, as a result of other diseases, such as:
- congenital hip dislocation;
- hip dysplasia;
- aseptic necrosis of the femoral head itself;
- have previously suffered various injuries, such as a fracture of the femoral neck;
- Perthes' disease;
- inflammatory processes in the hip joint;
Since coxarthrosis occurs not only in one but also in both hips, it is quite possible to say that bilateral coxarthrosis is not uncommon. Although primary coxarthrosis often affects the knee or spine.
Symptoms of coxarthrosis
The first symptoms of coxarthrosis directly depend on the degree of damage to the hip joint, as well as the stage of development of this disease, and the main ones are:
- pain that manifests itself during movement, in the hip joint and disappears at rest;
- emerging lameness;
- stiffness that occurs in the hip joint;
- progress down the range of motion of the hip joint;
- weakness of the femur muscles and a noticeable decrease in their volume.
We consider the symptoms of coxarthrosis separately, depending on the degree of the disease with this disease:
- Symptoms of grade 1 coxarthrosis: in the hip joint there are pains that are of a moderate nature, and only after prolonged intense loading of the joint. After removing the load and rest, this syndrome is completely stopped. In the first degree of symptoms of coxarthrosis, the gait remains normal and the range of motion of the joint does not change.
- Symptoms of grade 2 coxarthrosis: Hip pain is already felt more intensely than in the first degree, but is also projected in the inguinal area. In view of the developing muscular atrophy, the knee begins to hurt and often more than the ilio-femoral joint itself. Sometimes, with symptoms of coxarthrosis of the second degree, the pain begins to appear even at rest, and after the transferred load on the affected joint, a long rest is needed to relieve it. Lameness begins to appear during prolonged running or walking. At the same time, the strength of the thigh muscles is greatly reduced, and the range of motion of the joint is also underestimated.
- Symptoms of grade 3 coxarthrosis: constant pain in the hip joint, which does not disappear even after an extremely long rest or constant rest, even at night. The pain has already affected the whole leg. Against the background of pain, the patient develops insomnia and various sleep disorders. There is severe atrophy of the muscles of the thigh, buttocks and lower legs, while the motor volume of the joint is almost minimal. When walking, a sick person is forced to resort to aids, such as a cane, to move.
If such osteoarthritis of the hip develops only in the hip of one leg, then its weakened thigh muscles give impetus to the development of lateral displacement of the pelvis, as a result of which the length of the leg with the joint affected by coxarthrosis decreases.
Diagnosis of coxarthrosis
When diagnosing coxarthrosis, the symptoms of coxarthrosis described above must be taken into account in combination with the data obtained from X-ray examination of the patient. This technique makes it possible to determine not only the degree of coxarthrosis, but also to identify the causes that have served as a catalyst for the development of coxarthrosis. Radiography provides an excellent opportunity to determine the changes that have caused a specific injury to the hip joint, which is directly related to the mechanism of development of coxarthrosis.
In addition to the diagnostic methods already listed, computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging methods can be used, providing the opportunity for in-depth detailed study of developing pathology, such as the structure of bone tissue, the deformity of which is a companion of this disease. With regard to magnetic resonance imaging, this method still allows the assessment of pathological disorders that have suffered soft tissues around the joint affected by coxarthrosis.
Treatment of coxarthrosis
The choice of treatment for coxarthrosis directly depends on the symptoms of coxarthrosis and its stage. Usually in the first and second degree of coxarthrosis traditional conservative drug therapy is carried out, consisting of chondroprotectors, vasodilators and, if indicated, also muscle relaxants. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are also used during the period when coxarthrosis is particularly acute. It should be borne in mind that such treatment should be performed by a specialist, as self-medication, unlike traditional medicine, can have an extremely negative effect on the patient's internal organs and completely suppress the ability to restore hyaline cartilage.
Also, in the case of coxarthrosis, various physiotherapy procedures and exercises are prescribed. Particularly effective, in combination with traditional drug treatment of coxarthrosis, is the use of magnetic therapy in the treatment of osteoarthritis using a special device.
The effect on the body of a patient with coxarthrosis with diet has no direct therapeutic effect, but it is recommended for obese people to lose weight, as it allows to reduce the load on the affected joint, thus relieving acute symptoms of coxarthrosis.
As for the third degree of coxarthrosis, whose symptoms are the most painful, treatment as such is performed only by surgery, such as hip arthroplasty. Statistics show that after the operation, absolute recovery of limb function is achieved with deforming arthrosis of the hip joint in 95% of cases, which allows you to subsequently lead a very active lifestyle.
The service life of such a prosthesis is about 15-20 years, but at the end of its service life a second operation is needed to replace the worn endoprosthesis.
NoteIt is essential that! Don't diagnose yourself!If symptoms of coxarthrosis appear, you should consult an orthopedist, as only a qualified specialist can make a correct diagnosis and prescribe the most optimal treatment.
Prevention of coxarthrosis
Diseases of coxarthrosis can be avoided if the necessary prevention of coxarthrosis is performed:
- mandatory and timely treatment of inflammatory joint diseases;
- timely treatment of joint dysplasia;
- mandatory proper and reasonable physical activity, especially exercises with weights that must be performed correctly;
- mandatory control of your body weight, maintaining it in the norm;
- prevention of joint injuries.