Hip Joint Treatment in Germany

The hip joint — is the largest bone articulation in the body, bearing increased loads. Its tissues are subject to degenerative changes, and their risk increases with the patient's age. Pathologies are accompanied by unpleasant symptoms — pain and limited mobility. They constantly progress and require therapy. Hip joint treatment — is not always surgical intervention. In Germany, it is possible to eliminate pathologies without surgery. Patients have access to — innovative regenerative methods that do not require long-term rehabilitation in a hospital clinic.

Which Hip Joint Diseases Are Treated in Germany

German clinics accept patients with various congenital or acquired pathologies — hip dysplasia, femoral neck fractures. All leading orthopedic clinics in Germany specialize in degenerative-dystrophic pathologies.

The most common disease in this group — is coxarthrosis, or hip joint arthrosis. The pathology can be an independent disease, but it is often accompanied by other disorders — osteochondrosis (spinal damage) and gonarthrosis (knee joint damage).

Symptoms of Degenerative Pathologies

The presence of coxarthrosis can be suspected by specific symptoms — pain in the femoral bone area radiating to the groin and knee joint, stiffness, swelling, gait disturbance. The disease goes through several stages in its development.

1. First degree. Pain in the hip area occurs only after physical exertion. At rest, the symptom disappears. Bone articulations are not deformed, so the gait does not change.
2. Second degree. The person complains of constant aching pain that worsens with prolonged walking or lifting heavy objects. The patient limps. Range of motion is reduced.
3. Third degree. Pain bothers the patient constantly, its intensity increases. Gait is significantly impaired. Moving without a cane becomes difficult. Muscle tissue around the femur weakens. The affected limb shortens, and the pelvis deviates in the frontal plane.

A similar clinical picture is observed in other hip joint pathologies — arthritis, synovitis, impingement syndrome, presence of loose bodies. Treatment cannot be started without comprehensive diagnostics. Only after examination can the doctor answer whether it is possible to cope with the disease without joint replacement.

Causes of Disorders

Normally, the elements of the hip joint slide freely, which ensures mobility of the articulation. This is possible due to elastic hyaline cartilage and synovial fluid that acts as a lubricant. In pathologies, its composition changes. The fluid becomes too viscous, causing the cartilage surface to dry out and crack. Cartilage is damaged during movements. Additionally, metabolism within the joint cavity deteriorates, and muscle tissue atrophy begins.

Causes of Hip Joint Disease

• Static increased load on the joint due to physical exertion, large body mass
• Metabolic disorders, hormonal changes
• Previous injuries
• Infectious damage (arthritis)
• Congenital dysplasia
• Infectious diseases and inflammatory processes
• Sedentary lifestyle
• Age-related changes

Patients at risk include those with:

• excess weight;
• hormonal imbalances;
• metabolic and circulatory disorders;
• spinal pathologies — scoliosis, kyphosis.

The probability of hip joint damage is higher if a person leads a sedentary lifestyle or, on the contrary, is subjected to increased loads. Coxarthrosis more often develops in elderly people and athletes.

Diagnostic Stage

The first stage of hip joint pathology diagnosis in Germany — is a conversation with the patient. The doctor assesses the visual condition of the musculoskeletal system, checks the degree of gait disturbance, muscle tissue atrophy, and mobility impairment.

Next, the doctor will analyze the images the patient has on hand. Based on the results of the X-ray examination, the specialist draws a conclusion about the degree of pathology, which plays a key role in the subsequent choice of treatment tactics.

1. In first-degree pathologies, changes are mild. Joint space narrowing is noticeable, small bone growths are visualized.
2. In second-degree disease, significant joint space narrowing is visible. The femoral head shifts and deforms. The number of bone growths increases.
3. In third-degree disease, multiple pathological changes are noticeable — sharp narrowing of the joint space, widening of the femoral head.

To clarify the diagnosis, determine the degree of hip joint damage and choose treatment tactics, diagnostics in Germany is performed using instrumental methods — CT, MRI. To assess the patient's general condition, determine the presence of inflammation and readiness for intervention, laboratory blood and urine tests are prescribed.