Pathological Changes in the Hip Joint of Chronic Rheumatoid Arthritis

Abstract

In early rheumatoid arthritis, the hip joint is rarely affected. The hip joint is involved in severe classical rheumatoid arthritis and is similar to osteoarthritis roentgenographically in those cases.
On the hip joint, in the early stage of classical rheumatoid arthritis roentogenographically general narrowing of the joint space and bone atrophy are characteristic. On the other hand, irregular narrowing of the joint space, new formation of bone cystes and spicular formation are beginning in the early stage at the weight bearing part.
It is worthwhile to be followed up that oteoarthritic changes were noticed at the early stage of rheumatoid arthrits in a few cases treated with intra-articular injection of steroids into the hip joints.