PATIENT
EDUCATION

Hip Arthritis

Hip arthritis can occur from wear and tear or may follow an injury of the joint. Arthritis is the loss of cartilage (cushioning material) between the bones, resulting in bone-on-bone contact. Loss of this cartilage results in pain, and the range of motion is sometimes limited. Although the condition may occur from genetic defects of the cartilage, being overweight can place significant extra stress and discomfort on the hip joints, resulting in more debilitating pain and faster progression of the disease.

Symptoms of Hip Arthritis

  • Hip and groin pain (especially after walking, standing, or climbing stairs)
  • Hip stiffness
  • Hip clicking or catching

TREATMENTS FOR HIP ARTHRITIS

There are nonsurgical and surgical treatment options available for hip arthritis. Both treatment types are performed by our hip specialists at Orthopaedic Specialists.

Nonsurgical Treatments

Mild cases of hip arthritis may be treated by eating healthy foods that promote healthy weight and decreased inflammation, avoiding aggravating activities, using cold and heat packs, taking anti-inflammatories, working with a physical therapist, and/or receiving cortisone injections. While nonsurgical treatment can relieve mild cases of the condition, surgery may be necessary if it continues to worsen.

Surgical Treatments

Total Hip Replacement Surgery (Minimally Invasive/Rapid Recovery)

Using a small incision roughly 2.5 inches in length, a minimally invasive total hip replacement offers another, more advanced way to address hip arthritis. In addition to a smaller incision, operative time is often as short as one hour and local anesthesia can often be used in lieu of general anesthesia.

Learn More

Traditional Open Total Hip Replacement Surgery

The older, traditional open total hip replacement surgery requires a large open incision (9 to 12 inches), extensive muscle tissue dissection, the use of general anesthesia, and a 2 – 3 day hospital stay to monitor pain and recovery from anesthesia. This older, traditional method has many disadvantages, including potentially large painful scars and long recovery times, and hip motion is often limited.