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The Importance of Hip Shape in Predicting Hip Osteoarthritis

  • Osteoarthritis (T Appleton, Section Editor)
  • Published:
Current Treatment Options in Rheumatology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose of review

This narrative review summarizes the evidence relating hip shape and risk of osteoarthritis at the hip, with a focus on the most recent body of work.

Recent findings

Hip osteoarthritis (OA) is a prevalent and potentially disabling condition with few effective non-surgical treatment options. Risk factors for hip OA appear to differ somewhat from those at other sites. Variations in hip morphology, whether assessed through standard geometric measures or statistical modeling methods, seem to increase hip OA risk and may provide a novel approach to interventions to reduce or prevent OA. Such variations have also led to focused surgical interventions to “correct” abnormal shape, although comparisons with non-surgical management are lacking.

Summary

There remains a lack of understanding regarding the optimal management, whether surgical, non-surgical, or a combination, for FAI syndrome. Even less is known regarding other potential morphologic variations that may contribute to OA risk. Additionally, many individuals who have shape variations that would seem to increase their risk will never develop hip OA. Questions remain regarding key risk factors for hip OA development, which individuals should be targeted for therapies, whether directed at symptoms, function, or prevention, and which therapies should be studied and offered. Trials are underway to help address some of these questions.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Thurston Arthritis Research Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 3300 Doc J. Thurston Bldg, CB #7280, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599-7280, USA

    Amanda E. Nelson MD, MSCR, RhMSUS

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  1. Amanda E. Nelson MD, MSCR, RhMSUS
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Correspondence to Amanda E. Nelson MD, MSCR, RhMSUS.

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Conflict of Interest

Amanda E. Nelson reports grants from NIAMS K23AR061406 and the CDC, during the conduct of the study, and personal fees from GSK and from Health Press Ltd., outside the submitted work.

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This article does not contain any studies with human or animal subjects performed by any of the authors.

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This article is part of the Topical Collection on Osteoarthritis

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Nelson, A.E. The Importance of Hip Shape in Predicting Hip Osteoarthritis. Curr Treat Options in Rheum 4, 214–222 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40674-018-0096-0

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