Stem Cell Therapy for Hip Arthritis

Arthritis, or degeneration / inflammation of the joints, can affect the hip joint. It is estimated by a 2010 survey that 22% of the US population have some form of arthritis. This condition is also reported to result in compromised work-life in a third of all working-age arthritis patients. Based on the etiology of the disease, hip arthritis can be classified into osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, systemic lupus erythematosus, or psoriatic arthritis.
The hip joint comprises of the ball-shaped end of the thigh (femoral) bone located inside the hip (acetabular) socket. Smooth cartilage tissue lines the insides of the joint, helping to ease movement. Over time, as the cartilage wears away, and the ball and socket bones grind with each other, resulting in pain and decreased mobility at the hip joint.
Osteoarthritis, the most common form of arthritis, can affect the hip joint, and is caused by normal wear and tear over the years. Advanced age, obesity, history of hip injury and structural abnormalities of the hip are other risk factors for developing osteoarthritis at the hip joint.
Similar to other joints of the body, the hip joint has a protective lining, known as the synovial lining. In addition, a lubricating joint fluid is present inside the joint capsule. Both the synovial lining and joint fluid act as a lubricant to support smooth movements.

Rheumatoid arthritis causes painful swelling of the synovial lining, and over time leads to the deterioration of the joint. Unlike osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis is caused by immunological problems rather than routine wear and tear.
Ankylosing spondylitis, a chronic inflammatory condition of the spine and sacroiliac joint, may affect the hip joint. Another serious autoimmune condition, systemic lupus erythematosus, can affect different parts of the body, including the hip joint. Finally, psoriatic arthritis is also known to affect the hip joint in some cases.
Typical symptoms of hip arthritis include pain in the hip joint and surrounding areas, difficulty walking, stiffness and the worsening of symptoms with activity.
Hip arthritis is diagnosed by physical examination, X-ray scans of the joint structures and blood tests to detect autoimmune abnormalities.