Louisville Orthopedic Surgeon Answers Questions About Common Hip Injuries and Conditions

If you are experiencing hip pain or have a hip injury, you may have some questions for an orthopedic surgeon.  Here are some common questions and answers about hip pain and hip injuries answered by Louisville orthopedic surgeon Dr. Stacie Grossfeld.

Is arthritis of the hip common?

Osteoarthritis in people is very common. Hip arthritis is less common than knee arthritis. The majority of people over age 65 will have x-ray findings revealing some degree of osteoarthritis.

What is trochanteric burisitis?

Trochanteric bursitis involves the hip. Most people experiencing trochanteric bursitis will complain of a sharp pain located over the outer half on the hip. It hurts with direct pressure. Hip flexing can worsen the symptoms such as climbing stairs. There is a small sac of fluid that naturally occurs between the greater trochanteric region of the hip bone and the IT band. If the bursa becomes inflammed the fluid increases and pain occurs.

Could you tell me more about osteonecrosis and why it occurs?

Osteonecrosis is a condition where the bone involved loses its blood supply and starts to die. Causes range from repetitive micro trauma to sickle cell disease. Other known causes of osteonecrosis include alcoholism and oral steroid use.

There is also a category called idiopathic. Idiopathic means that we do not know how it occurred. Common areas that osteonecrosis occurs in the body are: medial aspect of the knee, the capitellum bone of the elbow, the talar bone of the ankle and hip. Treatment ranges from observation, non weight bearing to surgery. The surgery can range from a bone marrow stimulation procedure to undergoing a joint replacement or arthroplasty.

What can be done about a trochanteric fracture?

A non displaced trochanteric fracture can be treated with modifications in weight bearing, that is the use of crutches or a wheelchair. If the fracture is displaced, surgery may be indicated.

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