What are the Symptoms of Hip Calcification (Coxarthrosis)?
Pain is usually one of the first symptoms in the diagnosis of hip osteoarthritis or coxarthrosis. This pain can be felt in the groin and sometimes in the hip or back of the thigh. Knee pain as referred pain may also indicate this diagnosis and an X-ray confirmation is required. Its symptoms are limitation of movement, a feeling of friction, hip pain that occurs first with movement and then at night, and limping. Hip arthritis is a serious disease that affects a weight-bearing joint, disrupts the patient’s daily work and quickly renders the patient incapacitated.
What Causes Hip Calcification (Coxarthrosis)?
The hip is the joint between the pelvis and thigh bones, and hip calcification is the wear and tear of cartilage due to friction between these two bones. This wear causes joint inflammation, which causes pain and discomfort that worsens as the disease progresses. The bone beneath the damaged cartilage grows, forming bone spurs (osteophytes) around the joint.
Primary coxarthrosis accounts for two-thirds of cases and occurs in people over 60 years of age. Secondary coxarthrosis is the result of trauma (such as fracture, dislocation, avascular necrosis) or significant strain on the joint (associated with athletes or certain occupations). Hip arthritis can also be caused by childhood diseases or hip deformities, which explains why this disease can affect younger patients.
What are the Treatments of Hip Calcification (Coxarthrosis)?
In the first complaints that occur as a result of hip arthritis, a healthy lifestyle (reducing a healthy weight, regulating appropriate physical activities) is necessary to limit the pain and stop the worsening of the disease. Therefore, sports such as swimming are highly recommended. During flare-ups, pain relievers or NSAIDs may be used to help relieve pain.
When these treatments are no longer effective, corticosteroid injections, hyaluronic acid viscous supplementation, or platelet-rich plasma therapy (PRP) may be considered. Stem cell injections can also be discussed.
When Should Total Hip Replacement Be Performed?
It’s Not Too Early, It’s Not Too Late!!!
Finally, total hip replacement may be considered. However, even though hip replacements now have a relatively long life (more than 90 percent of the prostheses are still intact after 20 years), this operation should be delayed as long as possible. On the other hand, the worn joint should not be replaced too late, as the patient and the muscles around the hip must be in good condition. Also, advanced hip calcification can cause bone destruction, which makes surgery much more complicated.