Arthritis & your hip

Your hip is a ball & socket joint in the pelvis. It connects your torso to the legs and helps you to move. It is formed by the ball at the upper end of the thigh bone sitting in a socket in the pelvis. The ball and socket have a snug fit. Ligaments & muscles make  the joint stable. The bony ends are lined by a natural cushion called cartilage. This is the smooth shiny lining of the joint. Arthritis or arthrosis is the leading cause of hip pain. In this condition there is a progressive wearing away of joint cartilage. It is manifested by pain, stiffness, limp and reduced mobility.

Primary hip arthritis is a condition affecting Caucasians. It starts in middle age and follows a relentless path dominated by hip pain.
Secondary hip arthritis is the end result of a number of other hip diseases and affects younger patients. Some of the conditions leading to secondary arthritis are avascular necrosis, rheumatoid arthritis, post traumatic arthritis and hip dysplasia. Other rare causes are slipped upper femoral epiphyses (SUFE) and Perthes disease. As the joint cartilage wears away, the underlying bone becomes exposed. Bone starts grating against bone causing pain. Spurs form at the margins of the joint. Eventually pain becomes intolerable resulting in the patient seeking surgical intervention.

Total hip replacement, hip resurfacing and short stem hip replacements like Proxima & METHA hip are surgical options for hip arthrosis.

To know more about the indications for Birmingham hip resurfacing procedure & Proxima hip replacements, please see the FAQ''s page here