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During scientific research of osteoarthrosis of the hip, scientists discovered a mechanism, which causes bone destruction and the progression of the disease. This discovery might help doctors develop an efficient treatment for a disease that is currently incurable.
Osteoarthrosis is quite common and is seen mostly in elderly people. The disease involves a wearing out of the joint cartilage, which causes the patient unbearable pain and movement restriction. Osteoarthrosis develops over a period of several years but the symptoms don’t manifest until the cartilage is worn out to the point of joint dysfunction. The patient starts experiencing pain, restriction of movement and even joint deformation. Usually, the disease develops in the fingers of the hands, knees, and hips.
In one of the donated to research hip joints, scientists discovered high-density mineralized protrusions. These are small cracks in the cartilage which form as a result of damage to healthy tissue. When the cracks grow pieces of cartilage set free and move around the joint, causing even more damage to the healthy tissues.
In the early stages of the disease, osteoarthrosis treatment involves mostly anti-inflammatory and pain-relieving drugs in combination with physiotherapy. Once the disease progresses steroids are prescribed, but their effect is very limited. When all the conservative options have failed, doctors have no choice but to recommend a hip replacement. Maybe the discovery made in this research will eventually help doctors find a better treatment for hip osteoarthrosis.
The orthopedics department at HMC is home to the best specialists in Israel. Herzliya Medical Center offers its patients a unique opportunity to choose the treating physician.