Hip
Arthritis
in Adelaide

What Is Hip Arthritis?

The hip is a ball-and-socket joint where the rounded head of the femur (thighbone) fits into the acetabulum (socket) of the pelvis. Both surfaces are covered by smooth cartilage that allows frictionless movement. In hip arthritis, this cartilage gradually breaks down, leading to bone-on-bone contact, inflammation, and progressive pain.

The most common form is osteoarthritis - the mechanical wearing away of the joint with age and use. Other causes include inflammatory arthritis (rheumatoid, psoriatic, ankylosing spondylitis), post-traumatic arthritis following a hip injury or fracture, and avascular necrosis (loss of blood supply to the femoral head).

Hip arthritis affects approximately 3-6% of the Caucasian population and is one of the leading causes of pain and disability in adults over 50.

Symptoms of Hip Arthritis

Hip arthritis typically presents gradually, though symptoms can sometimes develop quickly. The most reliable indicator is groin pain - pain felt deep in the front of the hip, in the crease of the groin. This is distinct from the buttock or lateral hip pain that is often attributed to the hip but may have a different origin.

Other common symptoms include:

• Stiffness, particularly in the morning or after prolonged sitting
• Reduced range of motion - difficulty rotating the leg inward or crossing it over
• A limp or altered gait, especially after longer walks
• Difficulty putting on shoes, socks, or getting in and out of a low car
• Aching in the thigh or buttock, which can refer from the hip joint
• A grinding or clicking sensation in the hip

Pain at rest and at night are signs that arthritis has progressed significantly and may indicate that surgical management is approaching.

Non-Surgical Treatment Options

Hip arthritis does not always require surgery. In the early and moderate stages, a range of non-surgical measures can provide meaningful relief and slow progression:

• Exercise and physiotherapy - Targeted strengthening of the hip and gluteal muscles reduces load on the joint and improves function. Low-impact activities such as swimming, cycling, and walking are well-suited.
• Weight management - Reducing body weight directly reduces the load through the hip joint with every step.
• Anti-inflammatory medication - Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) can reduce pain and swelling when used appropriately and safely.
• Walking aids - A walking stick used in the opposite hand to the affected hip can significantly reduce joint load and improve walking distance.
• Corticosteroid injections - An image-guided injection into the hip joint can provide temporary relief, particularly useful for flare-ups or to assess the hip as a pain source.

These measures do not reverse arthritis, but they can significantly improve quality of life and delay or avoid the need for surgery in suitable patients.

When Is Hip Replacement Needed?

Hip replacement is considered when arthritis has advanced to the point where pain and disability significantly affect daily life, and non-surgical treatment is no longer providing adequate relief. The decision is based entirely on symptoms and quality of life - not on X-ray findings alone.

A severely damaged hip on X-ray does not automatically require surgery. Equally, a patient with significant pain and disability from moderate X-ray changes may be an appropriate surgical candidate. The conversation between patient and surgeon centres on: is this arthritis affecting your life enough to warrant an operation, and are you fit for surgery?

When surgery is appropriate, total hip replacement performed via the direct anterior approach offers a well-established, reliable solution - restoring a pain-free, functional joint.

Frequently Asked Questions