Transient Osteoporosis of the Hip
What is transient osteoporosis of the hip? What are its causes and symptoms? And how do you treat it? Alex Dodds, hip surgeon for the Cotswolds and Gloucestershire, explains.
What is transient osteoporosis of the hip?
You may have heard of osteoporosis. It’s the bone-weakening condition that usually affects older people and puts them at greater risk of broken bones. Transient osteoporosis of the hip is a much rarer condition that shares some similarities with its better-known relative. It too involves a weakening of the bone, although it is confined to the top of the thighbone rather than throughout the body. It can also lead to broken bones as the thighbone weakens. The crucial difference, however, is that it is temporary (transient).
What are the symptoms of transient osteoporosis of the hip?
Transient osteoporosis usually announces itself with sudden pain in the groin, buttocks or thigh. Pain gets worse with activity or under load (for example, when walking) but eases when you are able to rest the joint. Over time, however the pain will become progressively worse until you cannot walk without pain and (often) a noticeable limp. In some cases you may feel unable to walk at all.
What causes transient osteoporosis of the hip?
We don’t know. It may be a consequence of hormonal changes (the condition is relatively common in pregnant women, although men are more likely to be affected). Blockages of blood vessels around the affected area may also be responsible for bone loss. None of these potential causes has yet been proven, however.
How long does transient osteoporosis of the hip last?
The good news is that symptoms tend to disappear within 6-12 months and the bone loss is usually reversed. Just as we don’t understand how the condition occurs, we don’t know why it reverses either.
How do you diagnose transient osteoporosis of the hip?
In its earliest stages, the condition is hard to identify on X-rays. Traditional DEXA scans used to diagnose osteoporosis are ineffective for transient osteoporosis and it doesn’t show up in blood tests. Only in later stages, when bone loss is more advanced, do X-rays become clear.
That’s why Alex’s diagnosis will be based on physical examination — in particular assessing the level of pain when you move your hip — and an MRI scan. In patients with transient hip osteoporosis this will often reveal that the marrow is swollen.
How do you treat transient osteoporosis of the hip?
We know that the condition will eventually disappear on its own, so treatment is based not on curing it, but on managing and alleviating symptoms until they subside. Anti-inflammatory drugs may help, as may physiotherapy. Crutches or a walking stick may help take the weight off the joint.
A calcium-rich diet or supplements may also help support the regrowth of the bone.
Book your appointment
If your hip joint is sore or swollen, talk to Alex Dodds, hip consultant for Cheltenham, Gloucester and the Cotswolds.
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