Arthrosis as an common disease

Arthrosis is one of the most common degenerative joint diseases worldwide. The hip joint in particular is often affected because it is exposed to a high mechanical strain in everyday life. But what exactly happens with arthrosis in the hip joint? How does the disease develop and what arthrosis marks can be seen in the different stages? This article illuminates the individual development levels of coxarthrosis and responds to the respective changes in the X -ray image.

The healthy cartilage and its protective function

The cartilage plays a crucial role in the function and longevity of the hip joint. It serves as a shock absorber and ensures a smooth movement of the joint partners. Its smooth surface reduces the friction and distributes the load evenly on the bones below.

Properties of the healthy cartilage:

• High water content for elasticity and pressure distribution
• Collagen fibers for stability
• No blood vessels or nerves, therefore insensitive to pain

As soon as this cartilage is damaged, the degenerative process of osteoarthritis begins.

First phase of osteoarthritis: cartilage changes and reduction of the cartilage thickness

There are usually no strong symptoms in the initial phase of coxarthrosis. But there are already changes in the joint:

• The cartilage loses water content and becomes less elastic.
• The first fine cracks are created in the cartilage layer.
• The cartilage thick decreases, which leads to an uneven load.

Arthrosis marks in the early stage:

• Morning stiffness of the hip joint
• Light movement restriction
• Period of stress, which wanes after phases of rest

Second phase of osteoarthritis: sclerosis of the bone and osteophyte formation

Since the cartilage is increasingly worn, there is a higher load on the bone below. The body reacts to this with so -called sclerosing, i.e. a compression of the bone, to make it more resistant.

At the same time, the body tries to increase the surface of the joint in order to better distribute the load. This leads to the formation of osteophytes (bone outgrowth) .

Symptoms of arthrosis in this phase:

• Pain in everyday movements
• Restrictions in hip mobility
• Noticeable change in the joint shape

X -ray sign of arthrosis:

• Joint splitting decay
• Dilitation of the bone under the cartilage (subchondral sclerosis)
• First osteophytes on the joints

Third phase of osteoarthritis: formation of scree cysts

rubble cysts occur in the deeper layer . These are cavities that are filled with liquid or dead tissue. These arise from microfractures that the body can no longer repair correctly.

Consequences of the rubble cysts:

• The bone loses stability
• The joint is becoming more and more unstable
• The pain continues to increase

The final stage of osteoarthritis: burglary of the joint surface and hip head necrosis

The rubble cysts threaten to collapse in the far advanced stage of coxarthrosis. This can cause the hip head to be dropped and deformed. hip head necrosis develops , in which the bone is no longer sufficiently supplied and died.

Symptoms of arthrosis in the final stage:

• Massive pain, even in peace
• Clear movement restriction
• Change of walking up to the lag

X -ray sign of arthrosis:

• Strong deformation of the hip head
• Almost complete loss of the joint gap
• Large rubble cysts in the bone

Treatment options for coxarthrosis

Depending on the stage of arthrosis, there are various therapeutic approaches:

Conservative treatment of osteoarthritis on the hip:

• Physiotherapy to improve mobility
• Medicines for pain and inflammation inhibition
• Hyaluronic acid injections
• Weight reduction to relieve the joint

Operative therapy of osteoarthritis on the hip:

If the conservative measures are no longer sufficient, an artificial hip joint (hip-Tep) be required. The destroyed joint surfaces are replaced by a prosthesis that restores the original function of the joint.

Conclusion: recognize and treat osteoarthritis of the hip

The osteoarthritis of the hip is a gradual process that has developed for years. The first arthrosis marks are often unspecific, which is why early diagnosis is important. The hip arthrosis is a progressive disease that can lead to severe pain and massive movement restrictions. The typical arthrosis marks such as cartilage wear, bone clerosis, osteophyte formation and scree cysts are clearly recognizable on the X -ray image and reflect the progression of the disease. While conservative measures such as physiotherapy, weight reduction and drug pain therapy can help in early stages, only the use of an artificial hip joint often remains as a permanent solution in the advanced course.

Precisely because the development of osteoarthritis is individual and various factors have to be taken into account, early advice from a hip specialist is crucial. An experienced specialist can not only make a precise diagnosis, but also develop an individually coordinated treatment strategy - be it through joint -preserving measures or the optimal time for a hip prosthesis. If you suffer from hip pain, you should not wait too long, but get advice in a specialized center in order to find the best possible therapy for a pain -free future.