Inflammation or Degeneration of the Hip and Knee Joints
Arthritis literally means inflammation of one or more joints. As one of the largest joints in the body, the hip is often involved. There are many types of hip arthritis, all of which involve some form of inflammation of the joint and associated damage and wear to the cartilage surfaces of the joint.
The most common types of arthritis include Osteoarthritis (related to wear and tear of the joint associated with activity and aging), Inflammatory arthritis (from an overactive immune system) and Post-traumatic arthritis (associated with a known significant previous trauma to the hip).
Symptoms of hip arthritis often include pain with motion and use of the joint and a limitation in joint functioning. Inflammation or swelling of the joint may also occur, but given the deep anatomic location of the hip is often difficult to appreciate, unlike an arthritic knee or hand.
Hip arthritis can affect anyone, men and women, adults and children.
Hip arthritis is diagnosed from a patient’s history and physical exam, x-rays, and sometimes blood or joint fluid tests. Early and accurate diagnosis can be helpful to limit long term joint damage and disability.
The specific type of arthritis diagnosed is critical in guiding treatment. Treatments options may include physical therapy, anti-inflammatory medications, splinting or gait aides, immune altering medications and as an end stage treatment, surgery.
arthritis, such as orthopedists, rheumatologists and physical therapists. If nonsurgical treatments fail to improve your joint pain and stiffness, the affected joint may need to be repaired or replaced through surgery.
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Top-Ranked by U.S. News & World Report
Penn State Health includes the Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, ranked as one of the best orthopedic providers in the country by U.S. News & World Report. This honor was earned because our doctors consistently deliver exceptional patient care and outcomes through their commitment to advanced treatments, translational research and provider training.
Coordinated, Specialized Care Through a Dedicated Institute
Our orthopaedic specialists work together through our dedicated Penn State Bone and Joint Institute. There, they focus on providing you with multidisciplinary, tailored care and state-of-the-art treatments and technologies. This produces the highest-quality patient outcomes. All physicians at the institute are fellowship-trained and subspecialize in additional niche areas of orthopaedics, including arthritis care and joint arthroplasty (joint replacement surgery).
Designated as a Blue Distinction® Center
Penn State Bone and Joint Institute is a Blue Distinction Center for Knee and Hip Replacement. This superior designation from BlueCross BlueShield is only given to health care facilities and providers that stand out for their expertise in delivering specialty knee and hip replacement care. Our surgeons specialize in a range of pain-relieving procedures, including partial knee replacement, total joint arthroplasty, joint preservation surgery and complex revision surgery. They perform more than 1,000 joint replacement procedures every year.
Confidence in Treatment Through Education
We developed a special joint replacement education website just for patients undergoing joint arthroplasty. The website takes you step by step through the joint replacement process. From things to consider before choosing surgery to recovery after surgery, you’ll find the information you need to help you feel confident in your decision to undergo joint replacement.
Advancing Orthopaedic Medicine Through Research
The doctors and researchers in our Center for Orthopaedic Research and Translational Science at the Milton S. Hershey Medical Center are committed to advancing our field through scientific discovery and education. As the only academic medical center in central Pennsylvania, Hershey Medical Center is a national leader in research, in partnership with Penn State College of Medicine, and on the leading edge of new treatment options, including clinical trials.
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