Hip arthritis is a common cause of hip pain. Affecting more and more people daily, hip arthritis is one of the leading causes of disability in North America.

Hip arthritis occurs when the cartilage covering the bones of the hip joint breaks down. The cartilage of the joints is a very smooth material. This cartilage lowers the friction during joint motion, leading for smooth movement of the bones during activity.

Cartilage breakdown can occur because of mechanical problems of the hip and/or an inherent issue with the cartilage itself. There can be mild arthritis where a small area of cartilage is affected, or severe arthritis where the majority of the cartilage is damaged and the bones have no cushion between them leading to the so called “bone on bone“ situation.

Osteoarthritis is a form of arthritis in which mechanical issues lead to the eventual breakdown of the articular cartilage. These mechanical issues include hip dysplasia, hip impingement, as well as hip trauma.

In other forms of arthritis, inflammation is actually the reason the cartilage breaks down in the first place. Rheumatoid arthritis is the most commonly known, but there are many. Recent advancements in the medical treatment of inflammatory arthritis has decreased the role of surgery in the treatment of these conditions.

Symptoms of Hip Arthritis

A classic symptom of hip arthritis is joint pain. This may be a dull, aching pain in the groin, outer thigh, or buttocks. The pain is often worse in the morning, but after you get up and move around for awhile, it may lessen. Vigorous activity can also aggravate the pain and increase stiffness. Movement may be limited because of the pain as well as stiffness. Eventually even walking may become difficult.

Typically the extremes of motion are the most painful. With time all movement is painful. There can also be episodes where the joint feels as if it will give way due to the sudden onset of sharp pain. The joint may also become locked and difficult to change position as the condition advances.

Treatment Options

There are a number of non surgical treatments for hip arthritis. These treatments are directed at controlling the inflammation caused by arthritis and minimizing the weakness and stiffness that is often present. Anti inflammatory medication is usually recommended. Cortisone injections in the joint can also give temporary relief. As with any medication, one needs to be aware of the risks. Physical therapy and exercise are also important to reduce stiffness and weakness.

When these non surgical treatment fail to provide adequate pain relief, joint replacement may be recommended. The type of surgery recommended depends on several factors including age, presence of obesity, the condition of the hip joint and surrounding bone, and the underlying cause of the arthritis.

Some recent advances in hip replacement enable placement of implants through a less invasive approach, as well as continued improvement in the longevity of these implants. We are also looking at novel implants for hip replacement, including hip resurfacing.

Recent advances are enabling hip replacement to take place with much less disturbance of the muscle and soft tissues around the hip. Along with improvements in anaesthesia, and the implants and instruments used, this is leading to easier and more rapid recovery after hip replacement surgery.

The anterior approach to the hip is not new to orthopedic surgery. This approach has been performed for decades in orthopedics, but it has only recently been applied to hip replacement surgery in North America. This interest has occurred due to advancements in instruments and implants as well as the normal progression that occurs with surgery.

The anterior approach for hip replacement has been adopted by surgeons for a number of reasons. These reasons include:

1. less chance of posterior dislocation due to decreased trauma to the capsule, ligaments and muscles at the back of the hip
2. less pain after surgery due to decreased soft tissue disruption
3. easier rehab after surgery
4. improved precision of implant placement with the use of x-ray during the procedure

The anterior hip replacement procedure is usually performed with a spinal anaesthesia. Reasons for recommending a spinal anaesthetic include:

1. relaxes the muscles about the hip
2. reduce risk of blood clot
3. reduced blood loss during surgery
4. easier transition after surgery where patient remains more aware and in control

The procedure is usually performed with the patient lying flat on the operating table. A skin incision is made over the front/outside at the top of the thigh bone. The size of the incision is kept to a minimum, but made large enough to see what needs to be seen. Pain after surgery is less dependent on incision size, and more on the trauma to soft tissue structures under the skin.

After incising the skin, muscles are spread to gain access to the hip joint. No muscles are removed or detached, allowing faster recovery. The capsule is incised to expose the underlying bones of the hip. The bone is then prepared much the same as a traditional hip replacement. The implants are placed in the bone, using x-ray to decrease the variability in implant positioning. The soft tissues are closed and covered and patient brought to the recovery room.

After surgery, the patient is encouraged to walk and move. There are no restrictions on weight bearing or movement during the recovery time. Pain is the main dictator of activity. Patients are encouraged to place ice over the hip, and elevate the leg above the heart in a lying position to avoid swelling. Discharge home occurs once the patient can go the bathroom and do stairs. Usually the stay in hospital is 1 to 2 nights depending on other medical conditions.