Hip Arthritis Treatment

Hip Surgery

Hip Arthritis Treatment
Hip Replacement Surgery
Hip Resurfacing
Hip Replacement vs. Hip Resurfacing
Minimally Invasive Hip Surgery
Posterior vs. Anterior Total Hip Replacement

Orthopedic FAQs

Pre-Operative Joint Replacement FAQ
Post-Operative Joint Replacement FAQ

Severe arthritis within the hip is a debilitating and painful condition that diminishes the quality of life for those who suffer from it. Contact Dr. Kruse to learn more about arthritis treatment options »

One of the largest joints in the body, the hip is a ball-and-socket joint formed by the ball of the thighbone and the socket of the pelvis (acetabulum). Cartilage, a smooth tissue that acts as cushion and protects the bones during movement, covers both the ball and the socket. Damage to any of these components can result in pain and decreased mobility, and the most common cause of damage to the hip joint is arthritis.

Common Forms of Hip Arthritis

The most common forms of hip arthritis are osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. Osteoarthritis is a degenerative joint disease and the leading cause of hip pain. During the early stages of osteoarthritis, the cartilage on the ends of the bones inflames, resulting in stiffness after long periods of rest, as well as pain during more active periods. As the disease progresses, the chronic inflammation will cause the cartilage to wear away, causing bone damage, as the ends of the bones rub together during movement. As the hip bones rub together, patients will often experience increasing pain and stiffness, which can lead to the inability to complete simple tasks, such as walking. Patients over the age of 50, have a family history of the disease, or have had a past hip injury have a higher risk of developing osteoarthritis.

Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease most common in patients between the ages of 40 and 60. Middle-aged women, and patients with a family history of rheumatoid arthritis, have the highest risk of developing the disease. Unlike osteoarthritis, which typically only affects one joint, rheumatoid arthritis typically affects the corresponding joints on both sides of the body, such as both the left and right hip joints. Symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis include increasing pain, stiffness after periods of rest, swelling around the hip joints, and decreasing range of motion.

Conservative Treatments

While surgery may be required to relieve advanced arthritis, conservative treatments are preferred during the early stages, and for as long as possible. Dr. Kruse will often recommend a combination of the following conservative treatment options to help manage pain symptoms and slow the progression of the condition:

Rest and limited physical activity
Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as ibuprofen
Steroids injections
Physical therapy
Joint strengthening exercises
Weight loss

Hip Replacement Surgery

As arthritis advances, patients may be unable to continue to relieve pain symptoms using conservative treatments. Dr. Kruse will complete an in-depth evaluation of the location and severity of joint damage in order to determine the best surgical approach for relieving pain symptoms and returning joint function.

Learn more about minimally invasive surgical techniques »

Other procedures that Dr. Kruse may recommend are traditional total hip replacement and hip resurfacing. Traditional total hip replacement involves using larger incisions on the side or back of the hip to remove and replace the entire diseased hip joint with a prosthetic implant. Patients with pre-existing hip deformities will often benefit most from traditional hip replacement surgery.

Hip resurfacing is an surgical procedure in which Dr. Kruse will use minimally invasive techniques to remove and resurface only the damaged areas of the joint with a smooth metal covering. Patients under the age of 50 with healthy bones will often benefit the most from hip resurfacing.

Learn more about hip replacement surgery »