Hip

This is the second most common location of osteoarthritis. Without a congenital skeletal abnormality osteoarthritis of the hip generally sets in at around 60 years of age and is facilitated by excess weight and hard labour. A hereditary factor may also be found in some families.

 
Secondary osteoarthritis appears at around 45 years of age and is due to acquired or congenital malformations of the hip.

 
These malformations must be detected early on by x-ray because they may require corrective surgery (with a preventive aim). Osteoarthritis of the hip pain settles in the fold of the groin or buttock and may irradiate down to the front of the thigh and descend right down to the knee. Sometimes the pain is only felt in the knee.