Arthritis
• Damage to the articular cartilage (bearing surface), which lines the joint surfaces
• Severe osteoarthritis may require hip replacement surgery
Femoroacetabular Impingement (FAI)
• Abnormal shape of the acetabulum and/or femur
• This leads to impingement of the bones, against each other, in the functional range of movement
• Impingement can lead to structural damage in the joint & accelerated hip osteoarthritis
Greater trochanteric pain syndrome
• Is characterised by pain and tenderness on the side of the hip
• It is associated with muscle weakness and dysfunction, which exacerbates the problem
• The structural changes can include:
- Trochanteric bursitis
- Hip abductor (gluteus medius and minimus) degeneration and tears
• Treatment focuses on controlling pain, improving function and dealing with the structural changes
Hamstring tendon tears
• Occur with a traumatic event
• Lead to severe pain and usually significant bruising, in the back of the thigh
• Complete tears of the attachment to the pelvis, often require surgical re-attachment
• Surgical treatment is helped by early identification of the injury
Labral Tears
• Can occur with a traumatic injury or be part of the degenerative process within the hip
• Loss of the labrum, predisposes to damage of the articular cartilage (hip osteoarthritis)
• Labral tears may require hip arthroscopy, to:
- Remove debris within the hip
- Repair the labrum
Meralgia Paraesthetica
• Compression of the lateral femoral cutaneous nerve of the thigh
• Causes numbness over the front and outside of the thigh
Osteonecrosis
• Loss of blood supply to some of the bone around the joint
• This can lead to bone collapse and articular cartilage damage
• Severe disease may require hip replacement surgery