Coxarthrosis is a disease of the hip joints caused by changes in the tissue structure in them.The disease has another name - arthrosis of the hip joint, or osteoarthritis.
Coxarthrosis is a complex degenerative disease caused by changes in the cartilage tissue of the joint.Cartilage tissue cannot be restored after the completion of the formation of the human skeleton, so any damage to it affects the condition of the tissue in the future.The condition of the cartilage is also affected by the joint fluid, which performs the function of lubricating the tissues.Due to insufficient lubrication and increased friction, the articular cartilage becomes thinner and eventually wears out completely.The lack of cartilage causes an increase in the load on the surface of the bones, friction occurs between the bones and this leads to a change in their shape and position, leading to the appearance of pain.
Most often, people in old age suffer from coxarthrosis, since at this time the functions of the cartilage tissue have been lost.
Types of coxarthrosis
In medicine, primary and secondary coxarthrosis are distinguished.
In the primary case, the causes of the disease are unclear.
The development of secondary coxarthrosis is influenced by the following reasons:
- receiving various injuries and fractures;
- congenital defects in the hip joint (congenital dislocation of the hip);
- the presence of inflammatory processes in the hip area;
- rheumatoid arthritis (a connective tissue disease that destroys joint cartilage);
- aseptic necrosis of the femoral head (death of the femoral head).
Stages of coxarthrosis
In medical practice, there are 4 stages of coxarthrosis:
Phase 1
It is characterized by the appearance of periodic pain in the joints.The pain appears when you start to move after a state of rest, but goes away in the process of resuming vigorous activity.In a calm state, pain does not appear.The mobility of the joints is not impaired.X-rays show small bony growths and a slight narrowing of the joint space.
Phase 2
The appearance of pain during moderate physical activity, as well as at rest.Appearance of lameness during prolonged walking.The pain may appear in the knee or in the lower back.X-ray shows: changes in the shape of the femoral head, uneven bone contour, thickening of the bone neck, significant increase in bone tissue, 2-fold narrowing of the joint space.
Phase 3
Constant pain occurs regardless of physical activity, both in active and at rest.Pain can cause insomnia.Due to the limited movement of the joints, a person is forced to walk with support.X-rays reveal a significant increase in the width of the neck of the bone and a decrease in its length compared to the norm and deformation of the femoral head.Common space is practically absent.The physical condition is very limited.The patient may be recognized as disabled.
Phase 4
The patient experiences unbearable pain at rest.Any movement causes extreme pain, the patient is unable to move with support (crutches, cane).The only method of treating coxarthrosis is surgical.
Causes of coxarthrosis
The appearance of coxarthrosis is influenced by many reasons, but the most important is impaired blood circulation in the hip area.Due to improper blood circulation, the metabolism in the joint slows down, and this leads to gradual atrophy of the leg muscles.
Other causes of coxarthrosis are:
- sedentary lifestyle;
- microtraumas that do not cause pain to the patient;
- endocrine disorders;
- changes in joint surfaces due to age;
- increased load on joints (more often found in athletes);
- inflammatory and infectious processes in the joints;
- foot (flat feet) and spine (scoliosis) pathologies;
- obesity (increased load on the joint due to excess weight) and other reasons.
Taking into account the health status of the entire organism, the exact causes of the disease for a particular patient are determined.
Symptoms of coxarthrosis
Osteoarthritis affects men and women after the age of 40.Women experience more painful symptoms.
The signs of coxarthrosis are:
- pain in the hip joint (appears periodically and is painful in nature);
- uneven, unsteady gait (lameness);
- the appearance of a crisis in the joints;
- the mobility of the injured leg is limited (at the initial stage, one feels heaviness and stiffness in movement, fatigue and general discomfort);
- the appearance of atrophy of the thigh muscles (the volume and tone of the muscles changes, causing pain in the knee).
Diagnosis of coxarthrosis
To determine the diagnosis of coxarthrosis, it is necessary to undergo diagnostic procedures:
- examination of the patient by a specialist;
- Carrying out general and biochemical blood tests (allows us to identify inflammatory processes and distinguish arthritis from arthrosis);
- x-ray (used to detect injuries and changes in bone tissue);
- magnetic resonance of the joint (reveals small changes in cartilage tissue).
Treatment of coxarthrosis
To treat the disease, specialists use medical procedures and medications.
Treatment methods for coxarthrosis include:
- therapeutic exercises and massage;
- physiotherapy;
- ozone therapy;
- cryotherapy;
- medication treatment;
- surgical treatment etc.
In specialized clinics, an individual treatment program for coxarthrosis is selected for each patient, taking into account his age, accompanying diseases and the stage of coxarthrosis.An individual approach contributes to the patient's recovery as soon as possible.
Therapeutic gymnastics and massage
Gymnastics helps strengthen muscles and improve blood circulation.Morning exercises not only wake up the body after sleep, but also raise the synovial fluid from the lower parts of the joint.Synovial fluid lubricates the cartilage tissue with essential nutrients, which increase the cartilage's resistance to stress throughout the day.
However, for coxarthrosis, physical exercises should be chosen wisely.Very sudden and strong movements can cause severe pain and damage the joint.It is recommended to go to the pool, as swimming helps strengthen muscles, relieves stress on the joints and does not cause injuries.
Massage for coxarthrosis is a very effective and safe method.Improves blood circulation, strengthens muscles, relieves painful spasms, swelling and muscle tension.During a massage of the hip joint, back and back, the muscles relax, due to which the synovial fluid is distributed throughout the cartilage.
Physiotherapy
Physiotherapy combines different methods:
- electrotherapy;
- UHF therapy;
- ultrasound therapy;
- laser therapy;
- paraffin therapy, etc.
All these procedures are aimed at improving blood circulation, relieving spasms and inflammation, due to the fact that access to the hip joint is limited.
Drug treatment
There are many drugs that perform different functions in the treatment of coxarthrosis:
- Local medications(ointments, compresses, creams).Under the influence of advertising, most patients think that treatment with various ointments and creams is the most effective way.However, this is a misunderstanding, because the healing properties of such drugs are unable to reach the hip joint due to its deep location.They only help to temporarily improve blood circulation and relieve spasms.The causes of coxarthrosis are not eliminated and the disease continues to gradually develop into a more complex stage.
- Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.They are used to eliminate inflammatory processes, to relieve swelling and pain.As a result of the long-term use of nonsteroidal drugs, side effects appear that negatively affect the internal organs (gastritis).These drugs do not restore the cartilage tissue needed for normal joint function.
- Muscle relaxants(medicines that relax muscles).Improve blood circulation and relieve muscle tension around the joint.The effect of the drugs is temporary, joint functions are not restored.
- Hormonal steroid drugs.Intra-articular hormonal injections help in accompanying diseases, for example, in the case of femoral tendon inflammation.They have side effects and a short-term therapeutic effect.
- Vasodilators.They are used to relax the smooth muscles of blood vessels, to expand the lumen between them, to relieve pain in small vessels and to eliminate night pains.Vasodilators also improve joint circulation and help deliver nutrients needed by cartilage tissue.When used correctly, vasodilator drugs provide an important therapeutic effect.However, the effectiveness of the treatment is affected by the individual tolerance of the drugs.
- Chondroprotectors(drugs that restore cartilage).They are the most effective modern drugs, as they affect the restoration of cartilage tissue and feed it with the necessary substances.With the regular use of chondroprotectors, it is possible to stop the development of coxarthrosis.A positive result appears over time, and after the end of taking the drug, the cartilage restoration process will continue.
Surgical treatment of coxarthrosis
Surgical intervention is used in case of significant destruction of the cartilage tissue, the impossibility of its restoration and the immobility of the joints.In some cases, surgery is the only possible way to restore a person's ability to walk without pain.
Endoprosthetics is an operation to remove the affected joint and replace it with an artificial analogue, an endoprosthesis.The shape of the endoprosthesis resembles a real joint, performs all the functions of a joint and can withstand heavy loads during walking, running, etc.
Endoprosthesis service life
Like everything, an endoprosthesis has its own service life.Endoprosthesis wear depends on load and mobility.Excess weight significantly increases the load, and the service life of the prosthesis will be about 10 years.With moderate loading and mobility, the endoprosthesis will last about 15 years.There are also models of prostheses whose service life is 20-25 years, but their main disadvantage is the high cost.
After wearing the endoprosthesis, it is necessary to perform a second operation to replace it.However, replacement of the prosthesis is complicated by the fact that the hip bone becomes thinner over time and the problem of fixation of the prosthesis arises.Therefore, to avoid repeated endoprosthetics, it is necessary to use conservative methods of treatment as long as possible.
It is worth noting the risks of hip replacement - the number of deaths after surgery is 1-2%.
Rehabilitation after endoprosthetics
Joint replacement surgery is quite complex and will take time to restore lost mobility.The recovery period includes methods that strengthen the body: massage, gymnastics and breathing exercises.The volume and complexity of the loads should be increased gradually so that the body gets used to all the changes.
Healthy eating also speeds up the healing process.It is recommended to include foods rich in phosphorus and phospholipids in the diet, as their properties contribute to the restoration of cartilage tissue.
The rehabilitation period lasts about 6 months.The patient is in the hospital under observation for 5 to 10 days.Then a series of rehabilitation measures aimed at strengthening the thigh muscles are performed.First, the patient will have to walk with crutches, then with a cane, and finally on his own without any support.
At the end of the rehabilitation period, the patient regains the lost ability to work and the joy of an easy walk!
Prevention of coxarthrosis
To prevent coxarthrosis it is necessary:
- follow an active lifestyle (exercise in the morning, take short walks);
- do not engage in sports professionally;
- keep a balanced diet, as this helps to avoid gaining weight, which causes additional stress on the joints;
- take the course of chondroprotectors once every 1-2 years after 40 years (in cases of family predisposition to coxarthrosis or joint injuries).