Shallow hip socket predicts osteoarthritis

Reported by Susan Aldridge, PhD, medical journalist

People with a shallow hip socket had over four times the risk of developing osteoarthritis than those with normal anatomy.
Osteoarthritis of the hip is one of the leading causes of disability among elderly men and women. There are various risk factors, including acetabular dysplasia - having a shallow hip socket which is often present at birth and which makes the hip unstable.

A team in The Netherlands now reports on the impact of a shallow hip socket in The Rotterdam Study, which is looking at risk factors for common disabling disease. They studied a group of men and women of average age 65 who were free of arthritis at the start. Those found to have a shallow hip socket ran over four times the risk of later developing arthritis. The risk appeared to be greater among females and those with a low body mass index. The findings add to our understanding of osteoarthritis and help predict those people who are most likely to develop the condition.

Source
Arthritis and Rheumatism March 2005 Volume 52 pages 787-793

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