Hip osteoarthritis

The hip consists of a hip socket and a femoral head. When the layer of cartilage on the femoral head wears away, this usually indicates hip osteoarthritis. Hip osteoarthritis is a joint condition that causes the cartilage in the hip joint to thin and the smooth surface of the cartilage to become uneven. The joint edges may also thicken. Please note: hip osteoarthritis is often regarded as a form of wear and tear labelled as such, but it is better to view hip osteoarthritis as a change in the cartilage.

Osteoarthritis Hip problems can have various possible causes. Hip osteoarthritis develops because the body can no longer restore the balance between tissue resistance and the severity of tissue damage. Possible congenital causes include congenital hip dysplasia (a shallow hip socket and a more normal femoral head) and congenital hip dislocation (a displaced femoral head). Other acquired causes include, for example, Perthes’ disease or reumatoid arthritis.

A leg length discrepancy This can occur because the joints in the legs or feet are not aligned. For example, a difference in posture or movement in one or more of these joints can cause one leg to be longer than the other. The longer leg then results in increased pressure in the hip joint. This increased pressure can then lead to wear and tear in the hip.

On the other hand, hip osteoarthritis may also be the cause of a leg length discrepancy. This is because the side of the hip that is worn out is usually subjected to less strain.

Hip osteoarthritis has various symptoms, of which pain is perhaps the most troublesome and common. People with hip osteoarthritis may suffer from:

• Mobility impairment
• Crepitations (cracking sounds when moving)
• Joint stiffness
• Hydrops (intra-articular swelling)
• Instability
• Inflammation
• Joint pain
• Pain in the groin or buttock

Stiffness and prolonged morning stiffness are key characteristics of hip osteoarthritis. With stiffness, the hip has difficulty moving after a period of rest. The term arthritis (joint inflammation) is used to describe a group of inflammatory conditions characterised by stiffness, swelling and pain, and eventual damage to the joints. In rheumatoid arthritis Damage occurs as a result of inflammation of the joint; in osteoarthritis, the cartilage is lost first (damage) and, sometimes later, secondary inflammation develops, accompanied by swelling, heat and pain.

With morning stiffness, the joints are painful and difficult to move. The latter may be caused by a piece of bone or cartilage blocking the hip joint. In addition to the stiffness mentioned above, which is caused by osteoarthritis of the hip, functional limitations due to swelling and muscle weakness also occur in hip osteoarthritis.

Only if a leg-length discrepancy is the cause of hip osteoarthritis can our podiatrist help you. The podiatrist can then fit a heel lift on the side of the shorter leg. This can be up to 1 cm inside the shoe; otherwise, you can have this done by a shoemaker. The podiatrist can advise you on the recommended height.