Osteoarthritis of the hip is a condition that develops as a result of the loss of the normal hip cartilage. The cartilage is the smooth tissue on the end of bones that allows the hip to glide smoothly and painlessly. Over time, this cartilage can wear away resulting in bone rubbing on bone. This is generally a painful condition and can be a source of significant discomfort at night. Joint replacement is the definitive surgical choice to correct hip arthritis. Possible surgical options include: Birmingham Hip Resurfacing (BHR), large head metal-on-metal total hip replacement or traditional total hip replacement.
Continue Reading »Numerous muscles originate, insert and/or pass through the hip region. Specific muscle injuries lead to pain in the corresponding areas of the hip. Treatment is dependent on the muscle injured and amount of damage that has occurred.
Continue Reading »Painful snapping in the hip can be caused by tendons rubbing over bony prominences in the front or outside of the hip. The main treatment for this condition is physical therapy combined with medications or injections. Occasionally these treatments will be ineffective, and an arthroscopic snapping hip release may be performed to alleviate the symptoms.
Continue Reading »Sports hernia is an injury to the inguinal wall that causes sports-related groin pain. Unlike most traditional hernias, sports hernias are rarely visible, but can be discovered during a physical exam. Sports hernias can be associated with additional hip problems, such as hip impingement. After a sports hernia occurs, it rarely improves without laparoscopic or open surgery to repair the defect.
Continue Reading »Bursitis in the hip typically involves the greater trochanteric bursa on the outside of the joint. The bursa normally helps tendons glide smoothly over bony prominences, but it can become inflamed. A patient's hip is usually tender to the touch and complain of symptoms at night when he/she lays on the affected side. The initial treatment involves anti-inflammatories, physical therapy and steroid injections. If all of these therapies fail, an arthroscopic bursectomy may be performed to alleviate the symptoms.
Continue Reading »Piriformis syndrome is a controversial diagnosis that implies sciatic nerve irritation with symptoms that arise from compression or damage to the nerve as it passes under or through the piriformis muscle in the posterior hip region. There are no definitive tests to confirm this condition, and it is often believed to be secondary to other primary problems, such as hip impingement. All other causes of sciatic nerve irritation need to be ruled out; piriformis syndrome is considered a diagnosis of exclusion.
Continue Reading »Avascular necrosis (AVN), also known as osteonecrosis, of the hip describes a process of bone death in the head of the femur due to a disruption in the blood supply to this region. There are multiple causes for this disruption, but all lead to some amount of bone death that can cause large portions of the femoral head to collapse. If a substantial enough portion is involved, the head may become misshapen and contribute to further problems, including hip arthritis.
Continue Reading »Labral tears in the hip are a common source of hip pain. These tears are most frequently seen in the setting of hip impingement, but can occur from a single traumatic event. Tears often cause groin, hip or buttock pain. They can also result in catching, clicking or locking when the hip is moving. The best method to diagnose labral tears is a MRI with contrast injected into the hip, also known as a MRI arthrogram. Symptomatic labral tears can be treated with hip arthroscopy and labral repair.
Continue Reading »Dr. King specializes in the treatment of ankle pathology in the injured worker. He offers the latest operative and non-operative techniques to help these patients recover from their work-related injury.
Continue Reading »Disclaimer: The articles and resources provided are based on scientific articles and Dr. King’s medical opinion. Continue Reading »