Characteristics of osteoarthritis of the hip joint: types and by what signs recognized?

Osteoarthritis of the hip joint is a disease of the musculoskeletal system with a progressive course and chronic nature. Dystrophic changes begin in the cartilaginous tissue, which changes its structure, becomes loose, fibrous, thins and loses its damping function. As a result, the bone joints begin to rub against each other, motor activity is lost and pain occurs. In the absence of treatment, a person becomes disabled.

Clinical picture and causes of arthrosis

Osteoarthritis of the hip joint occupies a leading position among diseases of the musculoskeletal system and affects mainly the adult population after the age of 35. In the medical classifier he was assigned the code M16 according to MBK 10.

The hip joint is the largest in the human body and takes the greatest load. It connects the bones to the pelvis and has a spherical appearance. The round head of the femur is inserted into the acetabular notch. Its surface is covered with cartilaginous tissue, which allows the bones to slide and performs the functions of cushioning, protecting the bones from friction, destruction and allowing the range of motion.

The mechanism of osteoarthritis is simple:

1. The amount of synovial fluid decreases, which makes the joint less well washed, and the supply of nutrients is reduced.
2. The joint structure becomes loose. Due to friction, the cartilage becomes thinner, it stops relieving the pressure on the bones.
3. Outgrowths (osteophytes) are formed along the edges of bone sites.
4. The joint gap gradually narrows.
5. The person experiences severe pain, movement problems, shortens the limb, causes lameness.

Hip osteoarthritis can develop for several reasons, but it is more often caused by a combination of unfavorable circumstances. The disease is divided into primary and secondary. In the first case, doctors do not find a reason for the development of the disease, in the second arthrosis occurs due to certain pathologies.

Main reasons:

• trauma;
• strength load, especially in the post-traumatic period, when the joint has not yet recovered;
• overweight;
• congenital anomaly of the femoral head (dysplasia);
• heredity;
• arthritis (inflammation of the joints);
• prolonged stress;
• hormonal changes and diseases of the endocrine system;
• infectious diseases.

Osteoarthritis can be unilateral, with damage to the right or left hip joint. More often there is a bilateral option, when the pathological process affects both sides.

Symptoms and degrees of osteoarthritis

The clinic of arthrosis directly depends on the stage of the disease. Initially, the person begins to feel mild discomfort in the groin and morning stiffness of the leg, while swelling and swelling of the soft tissues do not occur. As the pathology develops, an acute period begins, which is characterized by intense pain.

Note. When the first symptoms are detected, you must consult a doctor and undergo an examination. Early illness responds well to treatment.

The main complaint of all patients is pain and limited mobility. Their severity depends on dystrophic changes in cartilage.

There are 3 stages of the disease:

1. At 1 degree, there is only discomfort after prolonged physical exertion (climbing uphill, running, cycling), which disappears on its own after rest. The muscles are in good shape, the movements are not limited. A narrowing of the joint space can be seen on the X-ray.
2. At 2 degrees, the pain begins in the groin area, spreads to the buttocks and front of the thighs. "Initial" pains appear when trying to get up or walk, which disappear after 2-3 minutes. After a long effort, the pain intensifies and disappears at rest. The symptom of arthrosis is a characteristic crunch in the joint, movements are limited (hip abduction), muscle strength decreases, and smooth muscle spasm occurs with painful sensations. The X-ray shows small osteophytes, which are located along the edges of the bony areas of the joints. The neck of the femur is thickened and widened, the joint space is significantly narrowed.
3. In 3 degrees of the disease, the pain is permanent and does not subside even at rest. When walking, patients use improvised objects (stick, crutch). There is atrophy of the muscle tissue of the thigh and lower leg, the limb is shortened - to reach the ground, the patient is forced to stand on tiptoe. The X-ray shows massive osteophytes, the head of the femur is flattened, and the joint space is practically invisible.

Some doctors also distinguish between grade 4 disease. Ossification of the joint and complete disability occur on it, the person cannot move without the help of crutches. The degree of arthrosis is determined on the basis of X-rays, which help clarify the etiology of the pathological process.

The following types of osteoarthritis are distinguished:

• dysplastic - the inclination of the acetabulum is determined;
• posttraumatic - depends on the nature of the injury and the shape of the joint after bone fusion.

Pediatric osteoarthritis

The causes of pathology in children are trauma, subluxation and dysplasia. Metabolic disorders can cause destruction of cartilage tissue.

The main symptom of the disease in children is the pain syndrome after long games. As osteoarthritis develops, it becomes more intense and stronger. The child refuses to run, his appetite decreases, excessive crying occurs. Another symptom is limited movement in the affected joint, numbness of the leg. Parents should pay attention to the characteristic crunch. If the first symptoms are detected, a doctor should be consulted immediately.

Note. A child's body regenerates faster than an adult's body. Timely treatment will save the child from disability.

If the diagnosis is confirmed, the main goal is to improve the blood supply to the joint. For this, the doctor prescribes various physiotherapy procedures, exercise therapy, visits to sanatoriums, medications.

Prevention consists of proper nutrition. Vitamins B, C, D are especially important. It is necessary to walk a lot in the fresh air, move actively and avoid traumatic situations.

The difference between osteoarthritis and other joint diseases

Many patients, after hearing the diagnosis of "arthrosis", confuse it with other joint diseases. Doctors often have a history of "coxarthrosis". Consonant words confuse the patient.

Osteoarthritis is the general name for the pathological processes that cause the destruction of cartilage tissue. It usually disappears with the deformation of the joint without infectious and inflammatory processes. It can affect the joints of the knee, elbow, shoulder and other joints. Coxarthrosis is an arthrosis of the hip joint, which is indicated by the prefix "coke", which emphasizes a certain area.

What is the difference between sacroiliitis and osteoarthritis? In the first case, inflammation of the sacroiliac joint occurs, which is characterized by pain in the sacrum when sitting. There is swelling in the vertebrae, pain in the buttocks. With arthrosis, the cartilage thins, which causes the bones to rub - which causes pain.

Arthritis is an inflammatory process in the joint tissue. The difference with arthrosis is that the latter is caused by mechanical movements that lead to cartilage abrasion. Arthritis causes swelling and redness in the joint region, caused by infectious diseases or inflammatory processes within the body. The reactive stage of the disease almost always causes osteoarthritis. The sensations of pain are similar, but in coxarthrosis they subside at night, and in arthritis they become stronger.

The clinical picture is similar. To correctly diagnose and rule out arthritis and sacroiliitis, doctors perform blood sampling and analysis. Increased leukocyte content and ESR indicate an inflammatory process in the body.

Diet

Osteoarthritis requires long-term and complex treatment based on medication, physiotherapy, exercise and massage, and diet plays an important role. Proper nutrition is necessary both in the exacerbation phase and in the remission phase. It should be balanced and contain all the necessary vitamins. In addition, diet promotes weight loss, which reduces stress on the joints.

Permitted products:

• vegetables and fruits;
• lean meat;
• crumbly porridge on water;
• milk products;
• bran bread;
• fish;
• honey;
• mushrooms;
• walnuts.

The menu should contain gelatin. On its basis, you can make various desserts from berries and fruits, as well as meat jellies. Eat cottage cheese, yogurt, milk every day. It is better to replace chicken eggs with quail eggs. Cook, stew or steam food. Eliminate fried and fatty foods. Give preference to vegetable oils. Drink at least 1, 5 clean water a day. Food temperature should not be too high or too low.

Avoid fast food snacks with sweet carbonated water. Exclude semi-finished products, sausages, canning. Prefer natural products without added preservatives.

What is forbidden:

• pickles;
• smoked products;
• white bread and pastries;
• hot spices;
• garlic;
• radish;
• fatty meat;
• Salo;
• canned food;
• mayonnaise;
• high fat dairy products;
• carbonated beverages;
• alcohol.

Bitan. Food intake should be frequent, at least 5-6 times a day, 200 grams. Snack is best done with your favorite fruit, you can drink a glass of kefir in the evening. The diet should not exceed 2000 kcal for women and 3000 kcal for men.

Prophylaxis

Preventive measures consist of timely elimination of the root causes of the disease and measures of general strengthening.

To prevent the development of the disease, you must adhere to the following rules:

1. Lead an active lifestyle. Swimming, exercise without strain on the wrist is recommended. Preventive methods include a bath and sauna, which improve blood flow and remove toxins.
2. Follow the diet. This is necessary in order to provide the body with the necessary vitamins and speed up metabolic processes.
3. Avoid hypothermia. Low temperatures cause muscle cramps, which make it difficult for blood to flow to the joint.
4. To reduce the possibility of trauma, especially in coxarthrosis.

In accordance with the rules, patient reviews were positive. They noted a reduction in pain, restoration of joint mobility and improved well-being.

Coxarthrosis or hip osteoarthritis is a disease with a chronic course, phases of exacerbation and remission. Timely treatment allows you to stop the dystrophic process in the cartilage tissue and maintain leg mobility. In the absence of therapy, the person becomes disabled, and in that case only surgery and joint replacement can restore the musculoskeletal system.