Coxarthrosis: what it is, symptoms and treatment

Symptomatic hip arthrosis (or coxarthrosis) afflicts 88 out of 100 thousand people each year and is more common in men up to the age of 45 and women over this age. This condition can be incapacitating and severely affects quality of life. Find out what it is, what symptoms to look out for and how it’s treated.

What is hip arthrosis or coxarthrosis?

Hip arthrosis, also called coxarthrosis, is a degenerative, chronic and irreversible disease of the hip joint. The cartilage that covers the bone surface in the hip joint gradually wears down, leading to friction between bones, pain and inflammation. Over time, the joint can become stiff and deformed.

This condition is more frequent in the elderly, but it can also occur in younger people, especially those with a history of joint injuries, structural problems or inflammatory disorders.

How is coxarthrosis diagnosed?

Diagnosing hip arthrosis involves the following methods:

Medical history

The physician will ask a series of questions to understand the patient’s symptoms, including the location, duration and intensity of pain, as well as stiffness and limited hip movement.

Medical examination

During the consultation, the physician will evaluate the hip’s range of motion, look for signs of inflammation in the region and conduct specific tests to determine joint stability and function.

Complementary diagnostic exams

The physician may prescribe complementary exams. X-ray is often sufficient to confirm the diagnosis, although magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) can provide more detailed images for a differential diagnosis. In some cases, computerised tomography (CT scan) can be helpful to complete the assessment of bone structures.

How is coxarthrosis treated?

The treatment for coxarthrosis aims to relieve pain, improve joint function and delay the disease’s progression. The treatment plan can vary, depending on the severity of the symptoms, impact on the patient’s quality of life and other individual factors. The most common options include:

Lifestyle changes

Weight loss – losing weight helps lighten the load on the hip joint, relieving pain and decreasing the progression to coxarthrosis. A combination of healthy diet and physical exercise may be recommended to achieve and maintain a suitable body weight. This is especially important in patients who are overweight or obese.

Muscle strengthening – specific exercises and Physiotherapy techniques can help strengthen the muscles around the hip joint, improving stability and increasing flexibility. Furthermore, some stretching exercises and mobility techniques improve flexibility, relieve stiffness and increase range of motion.

Medication

Painkillers can help relieve mild to moderate pain and Nonsteroidal Ant-Inflammatory Drugs (NAIDs) may be prescribed to treat inflammation. All medication must always be prescribed and monitored by the physician, and never taken on one’s own initiative.

Another possible treatment is intra-articular injections. These may be recommended in the early stages of symptomatic coxarthrosis. Out of the various options available, the most frequent are cortisone (anti-inflammatory) injections, viscosupplementation with hyaluronic acid, or PRP (growth factors) injections.

Surgery

Surgery is reserved for the most advanced stages of the disease, when conservative treatments are not effective. The definitive solution is a total hip arthroplasty (replacement with hip prosthesis), one of the most successful surgeries in all of Medicine. The main goal of surgery is to resolve the patient’s pain and restore their quality of life. This procedure involves replacing the joint with a metal, polyethylene or ceramic prosthesis. Physiotherapy follow-up should begin immediately after the surgery, and the patient is likely to need crutches for 1 or 2 weeks, depending on the case, with increasing autonomy day after day. A complete recovery is expected after 2 to 3 months.