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When it comes to the hip joint is one of the largest ones in the human body, and it is also one of the most important ones too. It is made out of the head of the femur and a socket on the pelvis. These two bones act to create a joint in the form of a ball and socket, which allows us to move around. However, there are various conditions that can damage this socket, and these are the most common ones.
Osteoarthritis
Degenerative joint disease, or osteoarthritis, is one of the most common types of arthritis and conditions that cause hip damage. The disease destroys the joint in a wear-and-tear manner by destroying the cartilage. If there is no cartilage, the bones will rub against each other, and that eventually leads to inflammation and, of course, pain.
Symptoms of osteoarthritis are minor in the beginning, but as time passes by, they become worse and worse, and eventually, the disease cannot be stopped. Because of that, it is best to discover this condition early on because then, it can be prevented with certain exercises, heat and physical therapy, and other methods.
Of course, once osteoarthritis progresses to the point where most methods are not helpful, the only way for someone to have a healthy joint is to undergo hip replacement surgery with the help of experts such as Mr Andrew Gong and other surgeons who are experienced in that area.
Rheumatoid arthritis
The second disease that often requires hip replacement surgery as a solution is a rheumatoid arthritis. This is a chronic inflammatory disease that affects the lining of the joint. The disease causes bone erosion and joint deformity over time, and it starts out as pain, stiffness, and swelling.
Unlike osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis occurs when an autoimmune disease is active. But, just like the previously mentioned disease, no one knows what causes rheumatoid arthritis. When this condition is untreated, it leads to osteoporosis, which makes treatment options very limited, and hip replacement is often the only option, and it is necessary too.
Osteonecrosis
When someone is healthy, their old bone is automatically replaced by new bone thanks to osteoblasts and osteoclasts, cells that are active in the bones. However, when the blood supply is not adequate, bones tend to break down much faster than the body is able to replace them, which will slowly cause bone tissue to die off completely and collapse. This is what is called osteonecrosis.
There are various reasons that lead to osteonecrosis, but the most common ones are fractures, dislocation, joint injuries, and other conditions that damage the blood vessels. There are some treatments for this condition, but in the end, most patients will require surgery.
Hip fractures
Getting a broken hip is a relatively common injury, especially in older patients. This occurs when the head of the femur or the acetabulum on the pelvis breaks in some form, and the cause is usually some form of trauma. Patients who suffer from osteoporosis tend to have a higher risk of experiencing a hip fracture, as their bones are already weaker compared to others.
A hip fracture, besides being incredibly painful, can also lead to some life-threatening complications, which is why it is advised for patients who have a hip fracture to consult with an orthopedic specialist right away. Hip fractures do not heal on their own, and surgery is required almost all the time.
Bone tumors
Tumors are any kind of tissue that is in the human body that is normally not present. They can be made of different types of tissue, which is why they can be either a lump of fat or can be hard if they are made out of bone. Tumors weaken the bone not only by taking their blood supply but also by destroying it with their big mass, which is why hip tumors often require some surgical intervention.
What is hip replacement surgery?
We talked about the conditions that cause hip surgery but not about the procedure itself. While the procedure is quite complicated, we are only going to go over it briefly. Hip replacement revolves around removing the damaged portions of the hip joint and replacing them with an artificial one. By doing this, the goal of relieving the patient from pain and increasing their mobility is achieved.
