The hip is one of the largest joints of the human body. The upper leg bone meets the pelvis at the hip joint, which is surrounded by the large muscles and tendons of the thigh and buttocks. As a primary weight-bearing joint, the hip proves vulnerable to degenerative disease processes that commonly provoke pain. Diseases that cause hip pain include primary joint and bone disorders as well as systemic illnesses.
Osteoarthritis
Osteoarthritis of the hip is a potentially disabling condition that develops when the cartilage surface of the hip joint slowly wears away, causing inflammation and distortion of the joint. Progressive hip pain, stiffness and decreasing mobility accompany advancing osteoarthritis of the hip. The University of Washington Department of Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine notes that the hip is the second most commonly involved joint among people with osteoarthritis.
Severe osteoarthritis of the hip may necessitate replacement of the joint. The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons reports that more than 190,000 total hip replacement surgeries are performed annually in the United States, with osteoarthritis as the most frequent cause of hip deterioration requiring joint replacement.
Hemophilia
The hemophilias are genetic disorders of the blood clotting system. These diseases are characterized by a tendency to bleed easily or spontaneously and difficulty controlling bleeding once it has begun. People with hemophilia commonly experience bleeding into the large joints, including the hip, notes "The Merck Manual for Healthcare Professionals."
Repetitive bleeding into the hip can lead to degeneration of the joint cartilage, a condition known as hemophilic arthropathy. Symptoms mimic those of other arthritic conditions of the hip and include pain, stiffness, swelling and advancing loss of joint mobility. At a 2010 scientific symposium of the Hemophilia and Thrombosis Research Society, Dr. Daniel Kelly and colleagues reported that approximately one in five patients with hemophilia has evidence of hemophilic arthropathy.
Paget's Disease
Paget's disease of the bone is a chronic condition in which localized areas of bone exhibit softening and overgrowth, frequently causing bone distortion and associated joint function problems. The pelvis and upper leg bone, or femur, are most frequently involved with Paget's disease, according to "The Merck Manual for Healthcare Professionals."
Aching pain is the most frequent symptom of Paget's disease, reports the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases. Bowing of the femur or distortion of the bones at the hip joint may cause misalignment and increased wear of the joint cartilage, predisposing to the early development of osteoarthritis. The National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases estimates that 1 million adults in the United States have Paget's disease, with men of Northern European descent disproportionately affected.
References
- University of Washington, Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine: Osteoarthritis of the Hip (Hip Arthritis)
- American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons: Total Hip Replacement
- Merck Manual for Healthcare Professionals: Hemophilia
- Hemophilia and Thrombosis Research Society: 2010 HTRS/NASCOLA Scientific Symposium, Prevalence of Hip Arthropathy in Hemophilia A and B: An Analysis of the UDC Database
- Merck Manual for Healthcare Professionals: Paget's Disease of Bone (Osteitis Deformans)
