Normal Anatomy
The hip is a ball and socket joint and is one of the largest joints in the body. It connects the thigh bone (femur) with the pelvis. The pelvis is made up of three bones being the ilium (rear), the ischium (lower front) and the pubis (located above the ischium).
It is called a ball and socket joint as the end of the thigh bone is made of up a ball-shaped knob called the femoral head that fits into the hip bone in a formed socket called the acetabulum.
The bony surfaces within the hip joint are covered with articular cartilage (a smooth shiny white cushion surface). The cartilage or cushion is kept slippery by the fluid (synovial fluid) – this smooth slippery substance allows the bones in the hip joint to move against each other with ease. Around the hip joint is soft tissue covering known as joint capsule and surrounding this are large ligaments, tendons and muscles. The joint capsule holds the bones in place and prevents dislocation.
A normal hip functions due to the bones being held in place by the joint capsule and allowed to move smoothly and freely due to the articular cartilage and synovial fluid.
Hip Arthritis
Hip Arthritis Informationand Assistance in Wollongong, Shellharbour, Nowra and Batemans Bay
Arthritis is an inflammation of the joint. It causes pain, swelling, stiffness and deformity. It can affect any joint in the body and commonly affects the hip and the knee joint.
Although there are many types of arthritis, osteoarthritis – also known as wear and tear arthritis or age related arthritis is the most common type of arthritis that affects the hip joint.
It occurs when a joint becomes injured or inflamed which causes break down of the articular cartilage (cushion) tissue. The resultant breakdown of the cartilage results in pain, swelling and ultimately deformity of the joint. This is because, the role of the cartilage is toact as a shock absorber due to its ability to change shape when compressed allowingthe bones within the joint to move against each other without friction.
What causes hip arthritis?
It's unknown as to what causes hip arthritis. In some instances it may be that the joints have not formed properly or due to genetic defects in the joint.
Factors that are known to contribute hip arthritis occurring to hip arthritis include increasing age, the joint being injured and carrying excess weight.
Hip arthritis can result in patients having pain in the groin, thigh and buttocks or even the knee. The pain can vary and can be described as stabbing, sharp or a dull ache and often the hip is stiff and patients will sometimes have difficulty with walking.
In this case hip replacement can be a possible treatment option and DrAnil Goudar can discuss that with you.
Book a consultation to discuss your hip arthritis options today
If you suffer with hip arthritis, there is help out there. Talk to your GP and get a referral to see Dr Anil Goudar, or call us to chat more about your options today
Total Hip Replacement
Hip Replacement in the Wollongong, Shellharbour, Nowra and Batemans Bay
Dr Anil Goudar is a trained orthopaedic surgeon who specialises in a number of different areas. Working with you and your GP, Dr Anil willassess your situation and offer a treatment regime or, if required, perform ahip replacement if the situation requires. A hip replacement may be your key toa better lifestyle.
What are your options for hip arthritis?
Dr Goudar works with all his patients with the goal of treating the hip to improve mobility and to prevent a loss of lifestyle. Depending upon the severity of the arthritis, treatment plans can include rest, use of walking stick or cane to reduce weight bearing on the hip, advice regarding weight loss, exercise regimes and anti-inflammatory and pain medications.
Dr Goudar is a highly trained hip surgeon and also provides hip replacement surgery when other treatment plans are no longer providing effective relief of pain or symptoms.
Hip replacement surgery is when the joint’s ball and socket mechanism are surgically removed and replaced with an artificial joint within the existing bone. The components of the artificial joint are made up of plastic, ceramic or metal.
Hip replacement surgery is now one of the most effective surgical procedures worldwide and can enable the hip joint to be restored back to full mobility and maintain their ongoing independence.
If you suffer from hip arthritis, Dr Anil Goudar can provide lifestyle and treatment options.
Get in touch for a consultation today
If your GP has indicated that you could require a hip replacement, please feel free to call us to talk about your options. When it comes to suffering with hip complications, there could be solutions out there to improve your lifestyle. Get on the road to booking a consultation with us today.
Revision Hip Replacement
The term “revision hip replacement” is used to describe when the original or “primary” hip replacement has worn out or has failed due to dislocation, infection or other problems and needs to be replaced.
Revision hip replacement is much more complex than a primary hip replacement procedure as there is often a lesser amount of bone available to fit the new hip into. In some instances, additional bone or artificial bone is required to allow a revision hip replacement.
Surgery for revision hip replacement is often done through the same incision as the primary hip replacement. It usually takes longer time to perform compared to the primary hip replacement and statistically has a slightly higher complication rate. The artificial joint (prosthesis) may not last as long as the prosthesis in a primary hip replacement.