by Dr. Luis Ramírez Núñez
3
Reasons You Might Be
Underestimating Your Hip Pain
Hip pain is more common than you think, but often overlooked or misdiagnosed. Studies show that many patients live with pain for years without proper diagnosis or treatment. Approximately 10-15% of adults experience hip pain at some point in their lives, yet it often goes undiagnosed.
Understanding Hip Pain
Hip pain can significantly impact your quality of life, affecting mobility, daily activities, and overall well-being. It can stem from various sources, including muscle issues, joint problems, or structural abnormalities. Early diagnosis is crucial to prevent long-term damage. Hip osteoarthritis affects nearly 8% of the global population over 50 years old.
Facts...
- 450,000 total hip replacements are performed annually in the United States alon
75% of Osteoarthritis Causes Are Mechanical
🔹 Femoroacetabular Impingement (FAI) – abnormal bone contact 🔹 Altered Morphotypes – atypical joint shapes 🔹 Perthes Disease – childhood hip disorder 🔹 Coxa profunda/protrusa – deep hip socket 🔹 Coxa retroversa – backward-oriented hip socket 🔹 Coxa vara – decreased femoral angle 🔹 Residual Hip Dysplasia (RHD-DDH) – shallow hip socket
Main Causes of Hip Pain
1
Labral Tears
what´s a labrum?
The labrum acts like a suction seal, maintaining lubrication, joint mechanics, and proper load distribution
A labral tear involves damage to the ring of cartilage (labrum) surrounding the hip socket. This cartilage provides joint stability and smooth movement.
A tear can cause:
Pain and clicking sensations
Reduced mobility
Joint instability
Pain and clicking sensations
Reduced mobility
Joint instability
Labral tears are found in up to 22-55% of patients with hip or groin pain.
Diagnosis
Clinical examination, X-rays, and MRIs help detect labral tears. Early diagnosis is essential to avoid further joint damage.
Treatment Options
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Conservative: Rest, physiotherapy, and medication.
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Surgical: Hip arthroscopy to repair the labrum, which has proven more effective than debridement when the tissue quality is good.
What is Hip Arthroscopy?
What is Hip Arthroscopy? A minimally invasive procedure using small incisions to insert a camera and surgical instruments into the hip joint.
Benefits of Surgical Intervention
- Pain Relief: Surgery can provide substantial or even complete relief from pain that previously limited daily activities.
- Improved Mobility: The ability to move more freely and without pain can be significantly improved, allowing the patient to return to many of their previous activities.
- Increased Quality of Life: With less pain and greater mobility, patients often experience an improvement in their quality of life, including better mood and overall well-being.
- Restoration of Hip Function: Surgery seeks to restore hip function to a state as close to natural as possible, allowing movements that were previously difficult or impossible.
2
Hip Dysplasia
Hip dysplasia occurs when the hip socket doesn't fully cover the ball portion of the upper thighbone, causing joint instability and damage.
Hip dysplasia occurs when the hip socket doesn't fully cover the ball portion of the upper thighbone, causing joint instability and damage.
Symptoms
-Hip pain and limping -Joint instability -Early onset osteoarthritis
Hip pain affects up to 15% of adults and is often linked to conditions like labral tears (22-55%), developmental hip dysplasia
3
Hip Osteoarthritis
Osteoarthritis is a degenerative condition leading to cartilage wear and joint damage.
Hip osteoarthritis is a degenerative disease that causes wear of the cartilage in the joint, causing pain and stiffness. It is one of the most common causes of hip pain in people over 50 years of age.
What does the procedure consist of?
The hip replacement procedure involves removing the head of the femur (the upper end of the thigh bone) and the damaged surface of the acetabular cavity (part of the pelvis). These are replaced by artificial components that replicate the function of the natural joint. The components can be made of metal, ceramic or plastic, and can be attached to the bone with surgical cement or by a design that allows the bone to grow into the implant to secure it.
When do we indicate a hip replacement?
No significant relief has been obtained through non-surgical treatments such as medication, physical therapy, or lifestyle changes.
The pain and functional limitation are severe and significantly limit the patient’s quality of life.
No significant relief has been obtained through non-surgical treatments such as medication, physical therapy, or lifestyle changes.
Diagnostic images show significant damage to the joint.
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