Normally, the structure of the cartilage ensures painless and optimal movement in the joint. It allows the two bones involved, the thigh and the hip, to glide back and forth and perform everyday movements such as climbing stairs and walking without any problems. Without the cartilage, these movements would be unthinkable.
Cartilage baldness describes the condition when there is no more cartilage. The hip joint is formed by the head of the thigh bone (caput femoris) and the acetabulum. Both structures are covered with cartilage.
The cartilage structure and synovial fluid ensure that there is no friction or pain during movements. If there is cartilage damage, i.e. a kind of tear in the cartilage tissue, pain may occur, which may have to be treated. This can be a small tear, but it can also take on much larger dimensions (up to €2 size). The problem with cartilage damage is that the cartilage does not have its own blood or nerve supply like most other structures in our body, but is largely supplied by the surrounding structures. If cartilage tissue is damaged, the body’s own regeneration is usually very limited for this reason.
Causes of cartilage damage to the hip
Since the cartilage tissue is indispensable for our joints to perform a smooth, painless movement, it is not surprising that the slightest disturbance in this optimal construction causes complaints that require remedy. The reasons for cartilage damage cannot always be clearly diagnosed. Damage to the cartilage layer that forms the cartilage can have several causes.
The causes can be divided into acquired and congenital causes. Congenital causes include anatomical factors, such as different leg lengths, and X or O legs. Acquired causes include traumatic and inflammatory processes.
A previous accident is typical for such an abrasion of the cartilage tissue, but also wrong, too much strain can cause such damage as a consequence. If the joint is subjected to a sudden, very heavy load, for example in a car accident or during sports, the cartilage can be damaged. However, these processes do not necessarily have to happen suddenly, but can develop over many years.
Even years of competitive sports can damage the cartilage tissue. In some cases, a piece of cartilage may also chip off, which in turn can lead to pain and restricted movement. Risk factors for the development of a chronic disease of the joints, such as arthritis, are typically obesity and certain occupational groups that expose their joints to excessive stress.
Often, damage resulting from long-term stress is more extensive than damage following a traumatic event (traffic accident, sports injury). Cartilage damage can also occur when metabolic disorders such as gout are present, or when infections caused by certain bacteria have preceded it. It is not absolutely necessary that the infection was in the hip joint.
Rheumatic diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis, can also be the reason for cartilage damage in the hip joint. Influencing factors such as age and individual stress on the joint also play a decisive role in the development of cartilage damage in the hip joint. In some cases, the damage can be unilateral, but is usually present on both hip joints. The diagnosis is often made between 40 and 50 years of age.
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