The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons estimates that approximately 10 million Americans have been diagnosed with osteoarthritis. Osteoarthritis is the most common type of arthritis, says the AAOS, and results from the cartilage on the ends of the bones wearing away, impairing joint motion and causing wear and tear on the joints. This can cause pain, stiffness and impair walking, causing a slight limp. Although it may not always be apparent what causes hip osteoarthritis, several conditions can predispose an individual to the condition.
Injury
According to eOrthopod.com, osteoarthritis of the hip can stem from an earlier hip injury. The injury may have caused small changes in the alignment and movement of the hip, thus increasing the wear on the hip joints. Bones around the hip that have been fractured can also change the alignment of the hip, causing unnatural stress on the hip joints. Infection or bleeding in the hip or cartilage injuries can also impair the surface of the hip joint.
Genetics and Childhood Conditions
Some childhood diseases can predispose a person to developing osteoarthritis in the hips later in life, says the University of Washington, including developmental hip dysplasia and slipped capital femoral epiphysis. Developmental hip dysplasia is a term that is used to refer to numerous abnormalities that a child might present with at birth or during childhood, according to the Hospital for Special Surgery, including problems with the hip joint, dislocated hip, or malformations of hip bones or joints. Slipped capital femoral epiphysis, or SCFE, is a condition typically found in adolescent hips, says the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. SCFE is a condition in which the ball at the top of the femur that fits into the hip joint slips toward the back, impairing hip function and possibly causing osteoarthritis.
Genetics
According to the Penn State College of Medicine, genetics is the most common cause of osteoarthritis in the hips. The University of Washington Department of Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine agrees, saying that osteoarthritis and arthritis tend to run in families and increases a person's risk of acquiring the condition.
Avascular Necrosis
Avascular necrosis is death of bone tissue that arises from a lack of blood supply, according to the MayoClinic.com. Another name for this is osteonecrosis. Bones may not get blood flow due to a fracture in the bone or a dislocated joint; this condition can also be caused by long-term use of high dose steroids or prolonged alcohol use. The MayoClinic.com states that the joint most often affected by avascular necrosis is the hip, and management is lifelong, since the condition gets progressively worse. Without any treatment, this can lead to hip osteoarthritis, according to the University of Washington.
References
- eOrthopod.com: Osteoarthritis of the Hip
- Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, College of Medicine: Osteoarthritis of the hip
- University of Washington Dept of Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine: Osteoarthritis of the Hip
- Hospital for Special Surgery: Developmental Hip Dysplasia
- American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons: Slipped capital femoral epiphysis
