Coxarthrosis

What is this disease with such a complicated name - coxarthrosis? This disease is a deforming osteoarthritis of the hip joint and is often referred to as osteoarthritis of the hip joint.

Currently, coxarthrosis plays a leading role in diseases of the musculoskeletal system that are degenerative-dystrophic in nature. There are many reasons for the occurrence of coxarthrosis, and in this context, the disease is prevalent in all ages.

Coxarthrosis is a non-inflammatory arthrosis in which degenerative-dystrophic lesions initially appear in the cartilage of the hip joint lining the surface of the articular bones, followed by bone lesions in later stages. directly. In such a progressive course of the disease associated with coxarthrosis, therefore, a violation of the natural normal functions of the affected hip joint occurs, which ultimately leads to a violation of the musculoskeletal system of the patient. a whole.

Hiprosis of the hip joint mostly affects people over the age of forty. Of course, coxarthrosis, like other diseases, can be successfully treated 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 disability - a joint prosthesis affected by coxarthrosis. Unfortunately, people with coxarthrosis who do not attach importance to hip pain in the early stages of the disease avoid going to the doctor, and hip arthrosis progresses day by day, a progressively more advanced form.

How does coxarthrosis develop?

Let's look at the mechanism of coxarthrosis. And let’s start with the fact that the hip joint is made up of two bones:

1. the end of the femur itself, similar to a ball;
2. acetabulum, similar to a small billiard pocket located in the hip of the pool;
3. special articular cartilage on the surface of both bones, reminiscent of a sponge-like material and needed as a shock absorber, compresses during movement and, in its absence, straightens;
4. and the bands that form the cavity of the hip joint itself and thus the joint capsule.

The joint is also surrounded by muscle tissue, such as the femur, buttocks and other muscles, the functionality of which also depends on the condition of the hip joint.

During movement, when the articular cartilage is compressed, a specific fluid is squeezed out into the joint, which is a kind of lubricant for the articulating bones in the joint. In addition, the articular cartilage itself provides an even distribution of load on the joint surface.

The occurrence of coxarthrosis disease is primarily due to the fact that the feeding of the cartilage of the hip joint is disrupted. The cartilage thins and then disappears in some places. If no steps are taken to stop this process, where the cartilage atrophy described above occurs, the bone itself will grow directly, trying to "fill" the resulting cavity in the joint cavity. osteophytes, or "spikes" on the bone. These deformities, in turn, lead to a violation of the coherence of the bones articulating in the hip joint and then to "wear" of the remaining healthy areas of the articular cartilage.

Causes of hip arthrosis

The causes of coxarthrosis that occur are primary, of unexplained etiology, and can be divided into secondary, due to other diseases, such as:

• dislocation of the hip, which is congenital;
• hip dysplasia;
• aseptic necrosis of the femoral head itself;
• previously suffered from various injuries such as femoral neck fractures;
• Perthes' disease;
• inflammatory processes in the hip joint;

Because coxarthrosis occurs in not just one but both hip joints at the same time, it is very clear that bilateral coxarthrosis is not uncommon. Although primary coxarthrosis often affects the knee joint or spine as well.

Symptoms of coxarthrosis

The first symptoms of coxarthrosis depend directly on the degree of damage to the hip joint and the stage of development of the disease, and the main ones are:

• pain that occurs during movement, disappears in the hip joint, and at rest;
• developing lameness;
• stiffness that appeared in the hip joint;
• downward movement in the range of motion of the hip;
• weakness of the thigh muscles and a noticeable decrease in their volume.

The symptoms of coxarthrosis are considered separately, depending on the extent of the disease:

• Symptoms of grade 1 coxarthrosis: pains of moderate nature occur in the hip joint and only after prolonged intense strain on the joint. After removing the load and rest, this syndrome stops completely. With the first-degree symptoms of coxarthrosis, gait remains normal and the range of motion of the joint does not change.
• Symptoms of grade 2 coxarthrosis: Hip pain is already more pronounced than in the first degree, but it is also projected into the groin region. Due to the developing muscle wasting, the knee also begins to ache and is often better than the ilio-femoral joint itself. Sometimes, with symptoms of second-degree coxarthrosis, the pain appears even at rest, and after a load has been applied to the affected joint, a fairly long rest is needed to relieve it. Lameness begins to appear during long runs or walks. At the same time, the strength of the thigh muscles tends to decrease and the range of motion of the joint is also underestimated.
• Symptoms of grade 3 coxarthrosis: persistent hip pain that does not go away after an extremely long rest or constant rest, even at night. The pain was already affecting the whole leg. Against the background of pain, the patient causes insomnia and various sleep disorders. The muscles of the thighs, buttocks and legs are strongly atrophied, while the motor volume of the joint is almost minimal. While walking, the sick person is forced to resort to aids such as both.

If such arthrosis of the hip joint develops in the hip joint of only one leg, it is given a weakened thigh muscle momentum to develop lateral displacement of the pelvis, resulting in the length of the leg along with the affected joint. coxarthrosis decreases.

Diagnosis of coxarthrosis

When diagnosing coxarthrosis, it is essential to consider the symptoms of coxarthrosis described above, along with data from the patient's X-ray examination. This technique makes it possible not only to determine the extent of coxarthrosis, but also to identify the causes that served as a catalyst for the development of coxarthrosis. X-rays provide an excellent opportunity to determine the changes that specifically caused the injury to the hip joint that is directly related to the mechanism of coxarthrosis.

In addition to the diagnostic methods already listed, computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging methods can also be used, which allow for a thorough examination of emerging pathologies, such as the structure of bone tissue with deformity. is the companion of this disease. As far as magnetic resonance imaging is concerned, this method continues to allow the assessment of abnormalities in the soft tissues surrounding the joint affected by coxarthrosis.

Treatment of coxarthrosis disease

The choice of treatment for coxarthrosis depends directly on the symptoms and stage of coxarthrosis. Usually, the first and second stages of coxarthrosis are treated with conventional conservative drug therapy, which consists of taking chondroprotectors, vasodilators, and, if necessary, muscle relaxants. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are also used during periods 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 extremely negative effects on the patient's internal organs and completely suppress the ability to recover hyaline cartilage.

In the case of coxarthrosis, various physiotherapy procedures and practical therapy are prescribed. The use of magnetotherapy in the treatment of arthrosis with a special device is particularly effective in combination with conventional pharmacological treatment of coxarthrosis.

The effect on the body of a patient with coxarthrosis with diet does not have a direct therapeutic effect, but weight loss is recommended for obese people, as it allows to reduce the load on the affected joint, thus the acute symptoms of coxarthrosis.

As for the third stage of coxarthrosis, the symptoms of which are most painful, treatment as such is performed only through surgery, such as hip surgery. Statistics show that absolute recovery of limb function with deforming arthrosis of the hip after surgery can be achieved in 95% of cases, allowing for a fairly active lifestyle later.

The lifespan of such a prosthesis is about 15 to 20 years, but at the end of its life, a second surgery is required to replace the worn endoprosthesis.

Note,important! Don't diagnose yourself!If you experience symptoms of coxarthrosis, consult an orthopedic doctor, as only a qualified professional can make a correct diagnosis and prescribe the most optimal treatment.

Prevention of coxarthrosis disease

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;
• proper and reasonable physical activity, in particular weight training, which must be performed correctly;
• mandatory control of body weight, keeping it at a normal level;
• prevention of joint injuries.