Skip to main content

Hip Osteoarthritis. Pathogenesis

 

An original view on the pathogenesis of osteoarthritis of the hip joint.

Coxarthrosis is a disease that can develop either independently or against the background of other pathological conditions: congenital hip dislocation, Perthes' disease, aseptic necrosis of the femoral head, and some others. From our point of view, the basis of its pathogenesis, as a rule, is the pathology of ligamentum capitis femoris (LCF). This may involve its complete or partial damage, changes in size, mechanical properties, and the localization of attachment areas.

The pathogenesis of coxarthrosis is a clear illustration of the Law of Bioinduction that we have established. LCF dysfunction results in disruption of normal hip mechanics. In the single-support period of the step and the single-support orthostatic position, it begins to function not as a lever of the second kind, but as a lever of the first kind. Accordingly, only the upper sectors of the femoral head and acetabulum are constantly loaded; the values of the actual average daily stresses in them significantly increase. The bioeffective stresses that arise in this case induce a complex of biological processes.

In the upper sector of the hip joint, the cartilage wears out and becomes thinner. Decentration of the femoral head and its cranial subluxation gradually develop. Microfractures of trabeculae are observed in the bone tissue. The majority of ongoing biological processes aim to neutralize bio-effective stresses. Osteophytes form on the periphery of the articular surfaces, which increases the area of their contact, and at the same time deformation of the articular ends of the bones occurs. The first and second reduce the intensity of internal forces in the bone elements. As the acetabular canal has lost its functional role, the acetabular fossa is eliminated, and the facies lunata expands.

In the subchondral layer of the femoral head, a layer of compact bone tissue appears and gradually thickens, reducing local stresses in the underlying spongy substance. There is a reorientation of the trabecular systems of the proximal end of the femur. The first system of bone trabeculae is strengthened, the second system is eliminated. Bone cysts appear and enlarge as one of the ways to eliminate stresses concentrations inside the bone at the ends of microcracks. The presence of bioeffective stresses is also reflected in soft tissues: fibrosis is observed in tendons, joint capsules and muscles, and in the areas of their attachment there are foci of heterotopic ossification.

There is a shortening of the femoral neck and an increase in the femoral neck-diaphyseal angle. The size and shape of the entire proximal femur changes, and the depth of the acetabulum increases. To a large extent, the listed phenomena are compensatory processes. In some cases, they change the actual average daily stresses, and in others, the optimal average daily stresses; the meaning of both is to level out the existing bioeffective stresses.

The mechanics of a hip joint affected by arthrosis is the mechanics of a hip joint that is devoid of LCF. In this case, the kinematics of locomotion changes significantly and their energy intensity increases. Bioeffective stresses appear not only in the hip joint area, but also in all adjacent elements of the musculoskeletal system, which leads to their pathological changes. With a reduced adaptive potential of tissues and significant violations of the mechanics of the lower limb girdle, bioeffective stresses remain uncompensated. This gradually leads to complete destruction of the hip joint, as well as gross changes in the anatomical elements of adjacent kinematic chains.

Keywords: ligamentum capitis femoris, ligamentum teres, ligament of head of femur, abductor muscle group, hip joint, biomechanics, osteoarthritis, pathogenesis

.                                                                     

In translating to English, the author is assisted by ChatGPT (version 3.5) and the Google Translate service.

If you notice an error, please let us know!

The first version of the text in:

Архипов-Балтийский СВ. Рассуждение о морфомеханике. Норма. В 2 т. Т. 2. Гл. 5-6. испр. и доп. изд. Калининград, 2004. (Archipov-Baltic SV. Reasoning about Morphomechanics. The norm – Kaliningrad, 2004. [Rus]) [aleph.rsl.ru

BLOG CONTENT

ETIOLOGY AND PATHOGENESIS

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

1916WalmsleyT

    Article by Walmsley T. A note on the retinacula of Weitbrecht (1916). The author discusses the embryonic development and relationships of the ligamentum capitis femoris (LCF) in humans and animals.     A NOTE ON THE RETINACULA OF WEITBRECHT. By THOMAS WALMSLEY, M.B., Senior Demonstrator in Anatomy, University  of Glasgow.   The synovial membrane of the hip-joint is in extent and attachment similar to that of other diarthroses, but the retinacula of Weitbrecht (or ligaments of Stanley) lend to it a special interest. These retinacula are readily recognized on the interior of the capsule as flattened bands passing inwards towards the margin of the head of the femur from the attachment of the peripheral capsule. The following description of their constitution may be selected as expressive of current opinion. The retinacula are arranged in three groups, superior, middle, and inferior: structurally, they are synovial covered capsular reflections: morphologic...

Great Compilation. Chapter 32

  English version of the article:  Архипов СВ. Книга Берешит как великая компиляция текстов и смыслов Второго переходного периода Египта: пилотная культурологическая, медицинская, археологическая и текстологическая экспертиза преданий против традиционной атрибуции. Введение.  О круглой связке бедра . 14.02.2026 .  The text in Russian is available at the following link:  2026АрхиповСВ .    The Book of Genesis as a Great Compilation of Texts and Meanings from the Second Intermediate Period of Egypt: A Pilot Culturological, Medical, Archaeological, and Textological Examination of the Legends versus Traditional Attribution.  Chapter 32   By Sergey V. Arkhipov, MD, PhD   CONTENT [i]   Abstract [ii]   Book of Genesis. Chapter 32 Analysis [iii]   Notes to Chapter 32 [iv]   AI Agent's Conclusion [v]   Content [vi]   External links [vii]   Application [i]   Abstract The Book of Genesis (Bereshith) was compo...

LCF in 2026 (August)

    LCF in 2026 (August )  (Quotes from articles and books published in  August   2026 mentioning the ligamentum capitis femoris)   Maldonado, D. R., Schab, A. R., & Domb, B. G. (2026). Improvement in Patient‐Reported Outcomes, High Rate of Return to Sport, and Secondary Surgery Rate Ranging From 0% to 9.8% After Hip Arthroscopy in Dancers and Athletes in Flexibility Sports: A Systematic Review. Arthroscopy, Sports Medicine, and Rehabilitation , e70020.    [i]    arthroscopyjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com   Klingele, K., & Strub, D. (2026). Author Response: Considerations and Challenges in Open Reduction With Ligamentum Teres Reconstruction for Pediatric Developmental Dysplasia of the Hip. Journal of Pediatric Orthopaedics .    [ii]    ovid.com   Quesada‐Jimenez, R., Rana, K., Strok, M. J., Kahana‐Rojkind, A. H., Burt, A. K., Sugarman, E. P., & Domb, B. G. (2026). Dual Labral and Ligamentum Ter...

Who, When, and Where Wrote the Book of Genesis?

  Who, When, and Where Wrote the Book of Genesis?  A Medical Hypothesis By Sergey V. Arkhipov, MD, PhD & Lyudmila N. Arkhipova, BSN     CONTENT [i]   Abstract [ii]   Introduction [iii]   Egyptian physician [iv]   Asian diviner [v]   Conclusion [vi]   References [vii]   Application [i]   Abstract The Book of Genesis is an example of an ancient literary text that contains important medical insights. We propose that it was written in northern Egypt in the late 17th century BCE, approximately ten years after the Minoan eruption. The protograph likely emerged from the collaboration between an Asiatic seer, who rose to the rank of an Egyptian official, and an Egyptian physician-encyclopedist. By refining its dating and authorship, this hypothesis positions Genesis as a credible source of medical and historical data, thereby enhancing its value for interdisciplinary research. [ii]   Introduction According to Rabbinic Judais...

18th Century

  18th Century Catalog of archived publications of the specified period        1700-1709 1705PetitJL  The author writes about anatomy, role, and damage of the LCF in hip dislocation.  1705RuyschF  The author  describes the anatomical preparation containing the LCF, notes its areas of attachment, geometric and mechanical properties.  1706PolluxJ   The author refers to LCF as "νεῦρον" and also points out the synonym "ἰσχίον". 1709PetitJL   The author discusses the anatomy, role and damage of the LCF in hip dislocation, and also mentions the principle of treatment.  1710-1719 1715MunnicksJ   The author describes the attachment, shape, role of the LCF, and discusses subluxation of the hip. 1717HermannD  The author indicates the distal area of attachment of the LCF and uses a rare synonym. 1720-1729 1720RuyschF  The author draws attention to the well-developed blood supply of the acetabular fossa, as well as the ...

Factors Causing of LCF Pathology

  Version : 20240418 Factors leading to pathology of the ligamentum capitis femoris (LCF), acting directly or indirectly. FACTORS CAUSING OF LCF PATHOLOGY 1. Mechanical (damage with a blunt or sharp object, direct, indirect impact) 2. Temperature (action of high or low temperature) 3. Chemical (exposure to alkalis, acids) 4. Infectious (local process, disease of the whole body) 5. Radiation (X-rays, gamma radiation, particle streams) 6. Medicinal (exposure to medications and their breakdown products) 7. Barometric (low or high atmospheric pressure, such as decompression sickness) 8. Mental (behavioral disorders: chronic, episodic, for example, intoxication, suicide) 9. Neurological (damage to the brain, peripheral nerves) 10. Malignant tumor process (destruction by the primary tumor or metastasis) 11. Benign tumor process (destruction by tumor, compression) 12. Biological (endocrine diseases, genetic abnormalities)   Keywords: ligamentum capitis...

1734KulmusJA

  Fragments from the book Kulmus JA. Tables anatomiques (1734). The author briefly writes about the anatomy, properties and attachment of the ligamentum capitis femoris (LCF). There are known translations of the treatise into Latin ( 1732KulmusJA ) and German  ( 1740KulmusJA ). Quote p. 56-57 [Fra] 2.) Le Ligament rond quiest court, mais très-fort, tireson origine du fond de: la cavité cotyloïde, aboutit à la fosse qui se trouve à la partie superieure du condyle de l'os de la cuisse. c. La Tète où la partie superieure, qui a un creux dans lequel le ligament rond est attaché. Translation [Eng] 2.) The round ligament is short but very strong; it arises at the bottom of the acetabulum and joins the fossa at the top of the femoral condyle. с . In the upper part of the head there is a recess in which the round ligament is attached. External links Kulmus JA. Tables anatomiques: dans lesquelles on explique en peu de mots la structure & l'usage du corps humai...

386-397John Chrysostom

  Fragment from the book John Chrysostom. Homoliae in Genesim (Homilie on Genesis). The treatise Homiliarum in Genesium, written between about 386 - 397 years in Antioch, now Antakya. J.F. Kelly gives a more precise date – 389 ( fourthcentury.com ). The author mentions ligamentum capitis femoris (LCF) in an animal and an episode of its damage in a human. To denote the LCF, John Chrysostom used the Greek term « νεῦρον ». Translated into Latin, the structure is called «nervum». The Greek text is prepared for machine translation using a service built into the blog from Google or your web browser. See our commentary at the link: 386-397JohnChrysostom [Rus]. Quote [ Grc] ΟΙΜΙΛΙΑ ΝΗ.γ. Ἀλλ ’ ὥσπερ ἐνταῦθα ἀλήθειά ἐστι προφανὴς , οὕτως ἐπὶ τοῦ δικαίου τούτου φαντασία τις ἦν , δι ’ ἧς ἐχρῆν πληροφορηθῆναι τὸν δίκαιον , ὅσης ἀπολαύει τῆς παρ ’ αὐτοῦ προνοίας , καὶ ὅτι ἀχείρωτος ἔσται πᾶσι τοῖς ἐπιβουλεύειν ἐπιχειροῦσιν . Εἶτα ἵνα μηδένα τῶν εἰς τὸ ἑξῆς λάθῃ ἡ γε...

1991FussFK_BacherA

  Abstract and citation of the article Fuss FK, Bacher A. New aspects of the morphology and function of the human hip joint ligaments (1991). The authors suggest that ligamentum capitis femoris (LCF) is unable to exert a restricting function, despite reaching a state of tension in extreme adduction.   Quote 1. Abstract The capsular ligaments of the human hip joint were submitted to exact morphological analysis, and they proved to be multiple and numerous. We have described various ligamentous systems and their interconnections, and have suggested new terminologies and systematics. The ligaments were subjected to functional analysis by means of measuring strips to determine the positions in which the ligaments are taut. The ligament systems were all found to serve a restrictive function, and various parts of the apparatus restricted all possible movements in the hip joint. Extension is restricted by the medial iliofemoral complex, abduction by the pubofemoral ligament, and addu...

Great Compilation. Chapter 41

  English version of the article:  Архипов СВ. Книга Берешит как великая компиляция текстов и смыслов Второго переходного периода Египта: пилотная культурологическая, медицинская, археологическая и текстологическая экспертиза преданий против традиционной атрибуции. Введение.  О круглой связке бедра . 14.02.2026 .  The text in Russian is available at the following link:  2026АрхиповСВ .    The Book of Genesis as a Great Compilation of Texts and Meanings from the Second Intermediate Period of Egypt: A Pilot Culturological, Medical, Archaeological, and Textological Examination of the Legends versus Traditional Attribution.  Chapter 41   By Sergey V. Arkhipov, MD, PhD   CONTENT [i]   Abstract [ii]   Book of Genesis. Chapter 41 Analysis [iii]   Notes to Chapter 41 [iv]   AI Agent's Conclusion [v]   Content [vi]   External links [vii]   Application [i]   Abstract The Book of Genesis (Bereshith) was compo...