Hip Arthrosis

Hip arthrosis is a disease of the hip joint caused by wear and tear of structures close to the joint. Secondary hip arthrosis can result in the subsequent installation of a hip prosthesis. An untreated femoral head necrosis can cause the development of secondary hip arthrosis.

Further causes of hip arthrosis as a late consequence of a fracture of the femoral neck are the involvement of soft tissue and joint structures. These include damage to tendons, ligaments and cartilage, the wear and tear of which, due to falling, promotes additional wear and tear of the hip joint. Increasing pain when moving the hip joint as well as movement restrictions are strong indicators of hip arthrosis.

In the early stages of the disease, affected persons often complain of pain when starting to move. If joint wear and tear manifests itself, complaints occur with any form of stress. In addition, an inflammatory reaction can occur, which accelerates the course of the disease and causes pain even when resting.

In the early stages, the course of the disease can be influenced and slowed down. In advanced stages the damage is irreversible. The joint stiffens increasingly.

Diagnostic tools for hip arthrosis are, in addition to the medical history and clinical examination, x-rays, sonography and MRI of the hip. Adequate therapy of the joint structures involved in a fracture of the femoral neck can prevent chronicity and the development of hip arthrosis. If appropriate measures are not taken, pain events occur with increasing frequency and subsequently manifest themselves permanently.

In early stages, hip arthrosis is treated conservatively. Physiotherapy, physical applications and relief with crutches slow down the further course of the disease. Furthermore, medication can be used to relieve pain and inflammation as well as to build up cartilage.In advanced stages, arthroscopy of the hip joint and partial or complete replacement of the joint with a hip prosthesis are available.

Hip prosthesis

If all therapeutic measures are no longer effective or the hip arthrosis is too advanced, a late consequence of the femoral neck fracture can be a hip prosthesis. A hip prosthesis is the artificial replacement of the hip joint. When a hip prosthesis is implanted, the acetabular cup of the pelvis is replaced by a cup prosthesis (= “artificial cup”). The femoral head and the neck of the femur itself are replaced by the prosthesis stem with a mounted artificial head.