x-ray of human with arthritis in the hips
The arthritic hip is a significant problem for many people; it may arise as a result of wear and tear (normal or accelerated), caused by: rheumatoid arthritis, trauma, or joint collapse caused by a fault in blood supply to the femoral head (ball of the joint). Arthritis of the hip is a condition in which there is loss of the articular cartilage of the femoral head and acetabulum. This can be seen on x-ray as a loss of the space between the two ends of bone.
Diagnosis is usually straightforward. Arthritis is usually easily seen on plain X-ray films, and hip motion is generally limited and painful. The pain is often in the groin or radiates into the thigh or even to the knee. Sciatica or nerve related pain from the back may coexist, or be confused with the pain of hip arthritis. In cases where the x-ray and physical exam do not match the pain complaints, MRI, bone scan, or joint injection test may be indicated to localize the source and cause of pain.
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February 22nd, 2010 at 5:08 am
I liked it. So much useful material. I read with great interest.