Coxarthrosis

What is this disease with such a complex name - coxarthrosis? This disease is a deforming arthrosis of the hip joint and is often also called arthrosis of the hip joint.

Currently, coxarthrosis is the leader among diseases of the musculoskeletal system, which are degenerative-dystrophic in nature. Many reasons contribute to the appearance of coxarthrosis, and in this regard, this disease has spread in all age groups.

Coxarthrosis refers to arthrosis that is not inflammatory in nature, in which there are first changes of a degenerative-dystrophic nature in the cartilage of the hip joint, which lines the surfaces of the articulating bones, and in the later stages, bone changes already occur directly. During such a gradual course of the disease with coxarthrosis, therefore, there is a violation of the naturally normal functions of the affected hip joint, which ultimately leads to a violation of the functions of the musculoskeletal system of the patient asa set.

For the most part, osteoarthritis of the hip joint affects people over the age of forty. Of course, coxarthrosis, like other diseases, can be successfully treated without surgery, but only in the early stages. But in its later stages it will hardly be possible to do without surgical intervention, and only one thing can help to avoid disability - prosthetics of the joint affected by coxarthrosis. Unfortunately, people with coxarthrosis, not attaching importance to minor pain in the hip joint at the initial stage of the disease, avoid going to the doctor, and arthrosis of the hip jointhip, meanwhile, continues to progress day by day, gradually transforming into a more advanced form.

How does coxarthrosis develop?

Let's look at the mechanism of development of coxarthrosis of the disease. And let's start with the fact that the hip joint consists of two bones:

1. the end of the femur itself, similar to a bullet;
2. acetabulum, similar to a small billiard pocket, located in the iliac part of the pelvis;
3. special articular cartilage on the surface of both bones, resembling a spongy substance and necessary as a shock absorber, compressing during movement and straightening in its absence;
4. as well as the ligaments that form the cavity of the hip joint itself and thus form the joint capsule.

Around the joint, in addition, there are muscle tissues, such as the femoral, gluteal and other muscles, the functionality of which also depends on the state of the hip joint.

During movement, when the articular cartilage is compressed, a specific liquid is "pressed" from it into the joint, which is a kind of lubricant for the bones that articulate in the joint. In addition, the articular cartilage itself additionally performs the function of evenly distributing loads over the surface of the joint, being an excellent shock absorber during movement.

The very occurrence of the disease with coxarthrosis is mainly due to the fact that the nutrition of the cartilage of the hip joint is disturbed. The cartilage thins and eventually disappears in some places. If no measures are taken to stop this process, then in places where the cartilage atrophy described above occurs, the bone itself will grow directly, thereby trying to "fill" the resulting void in thejoint cavity. As a result of such bone changes, osteophytes, that is, "spikes" on the bone, begin to appear. These deformities, in turn, lead to a violation of the congruence of the articulating bones in the hip joint and the subsequent "abrasion" of the remaining healthy areas of the articular cartilage.

Causes of hip osteoarthritis

The causes of coxarthrosis, by which it occurs, can be divided into primary, having an unclear etiology, and secondary, as a result of other diseases, for example, such as:

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

Since coxarthrosis disease occurs not only in one, but simultaneously in both hip joints, it is quite possible to say that bilateral coxarthrosis is not uncommon. Although with primary coxarthrosis often usually the knee joint or spine is also affected.

Coxarthrosis symptoms

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

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

Separately, we consider the symptoms of coxarthrosis, depending on the degree of illness with this disease:

• Symptoms of the 1st degree of coxarthrosis: in the hip joint there are pains of a moderate nature, and only after the joint has been under heavy load for a long time. After removing the load and resting, this syndrome is completely stopped. With the first degree of coxarthrosis symptoms, the gait remains normal, and the range of motion in the joint does not change.
• Symptoms of the 2nd degree of coxarthrosis: the pains in the hip joint are already felt more intense than in the first degree, but in addition, they are projected into the inguinal region. Given the developing muscle atrophy, the knee also begins to hurt, and quite often more so than the ilio-femoral joint itself. Sometimes, with symptoms of coxarthrosis of the second degree, pain begins to appear even at rest, and after the load is transferred to the affected joint, a fairly long rest is already necessary for its relief. Lameness begins to appear during prolonged running or walking. At the same time, the strength of the thigh muscles is rather reduced, and the range of motion of the joint is also underestimated.
• Symptoms of the 3rd degree of coxarthrosis: persistent pain in the hip joint, which does not go away even after extremely long rest or constant rest, even at night. The pain has already affected the whole leg. Against the background of pain, the patient develops insomnia and various sleep disorders. There is a strong atrophy of the muscles of the thigh, buttocks and lower leg, while the motor volume of the joint is almost minimal. When walking, a sick person is forced to use assistive devices, such as a cane, to move around.

If such arthrosis of the hip joint develops only in the hip joint of one leg, its weakened femoral muscles give impetus to the development of lateral displacement of the pelvis, as a result of which thelength of the leg with the joint affected by coxarthrosis decreases.

Diagnosis of coxarthrosis

When diagnosing coxarthrosis, the symptoms of coxarthrosis described above are necessarily taken into account in combination with the data obtained from an X-ray examination of the patient. This technique makes it possible to determine not only the degree of coxarthrosis, but to identify the causes that served as a catalyst for the development of coxarthrosis. X-ray provides an excellent opportunity to determine the changes that specifically caused injury to the hip joint, which is directly related to the mechanism of development of coxarthrosis.

In addition to the diagnostic methods already listed, methods of computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging can also be used, providing the opportunity for an in-depth and detailed study of the developing pathology, such as, for example, the structure of the tissuebone, the deformation of which is a companion of this disease. With regard to magnetic resonance imaging, this method still allows an evaluation of the pathological disorders that the soft tissues surrounding the joint affected by coxarthrosis have undergone.

Treatment of coxarthrosis

The choice of treatment for coxarthrosis directly depends on the symptoms of coxarthrosis and its stage. Usually, with the first and second degrees of coxarthrosis, traditional conservative drug treatment is carried out, consisting in taking chondroprotectors, vasodilators and, if indicated, also muscle relaxants. During the period when coxarthrosis is particularly acute, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are also used. It should be borne in mind that such treatment should be carried out by a medical specialist, since self-medication, unlike traditional medicine, can have an extremely negative effect on the internal organs of the patient and completely suppress the ability torestoration of hyaline cartilage.

In addition, in case of coxarthrosis, various physiotherapeutic procedures and exercise therapy are prescribed. Particularly effective is the use of magnetic therapy in the treatment of arthrosis with the help of a special device, in combination with the traditional drug treatment of coxarthrosis.

The impact on the body of a patient with coxarthrosis with a diet does not have a direct therapeutic effect, but obese people are recommended to reduce body weight, as this allows to reduce the load on the jointaffected, thus relieving the acute symptoms of osteoarthritis.

As for the third degree of the disease with coxarthrosis, the symptoms of which are the most painful, the treatment, as such, is carried out only by surgical intervention, for example, hip arthroplasty. Statistical data indicate that after surgery, absolute restoration of the functions of a limb with deforming arthrosis of the hip joint is achieved in 95% of cases, which makes it possible to lead a fairly active life afterwards.

The service life of such a prosthesis is about 15-20 years, but at the end of its service life, a second operation is required to replace the worn-out stent.

To note,It is important! Do not diagnose yourself!If symptoms of coxarthrosis appear, you should consult an orthopedic doctor, since only a qualified specialist can make a correct diagnosis and prescribe the most optimal treatment.

Prevention of coxarthrosis

Coxarthrosis diseases can be prevented if the necessary prevention of coxarthrosis is carried out:

• mandatory and timely treatment of inflammatory joint diseases;
• timely treatment of joint dysplasia;
• compulsory correct and reasonable physical activity, in particular exercises with weights, which must be carried out correctly;
• mandatory control of your body weight, maintaining it within the norm;
• prevention of joint damage.