by Neha Mittal, MS, Biotechnology Last updated on April 19, 2021,
What is a bone cyst on hip?
A hip cyst is a subchondral cyst (fluid-filled space) that forms inside a joint that extends from one of the bones that forms the joint of the hip.
Like any other bone cyst, hip bone cyst is a benign bone tumor. It does not spread to other parts of the body. How the bone cyst in hip can destroy the bone in the affected location. It can cause weakening of the bone and relative thinning of the bone. This may lead to increased risk of fracture of the hip bone.
Causes and symptoms of bone cyst on the hip
The main cause of a bone cyst on hip is osteoarthritis, often referred to as wear and tear of the bones by a layman. In some rare cases, the cyst can develop due to other reasons.
Sometimes, hip cysts may develop as a result of a spread of disease from somewhere else, but this is not common. This is possible when there is already any other sign of illness within the body that suggests to be the source of the problem.
The main symptom of a bone cyst on hip is a painful hip. A small lump may also be noted that is indicative of the cyst.
Diagnosis of bone cyst on the hip
Bone cysts on the hip can be identified as hollow areas on the X-ray near to the joint itself.
The diagnosis starts with identifying the cause of the hip pain when you visit a doctor or an orthopedist. A physician can also make a diagnosis and recommend a course of treatment based on a patient's physical exam and personal history.
Sometimes, imaging may be needed in order to precisely determine the source of the pain and make a confirmed diagnosis. Hip pain may appear from a lot of different places and require precise investigation.
Many people discover their cysts when they have an X ray for some other unrelated problem. The cyst is already present for some time without the patient ever knowing about it. In such cases, these are identified purely by chance when the bone is tested for other reasons. If they are small in size, they are usually harmless and require no treatment.
Imaging technologies that may be used for hip cyst diagnosis and to determine the cause of your hip pain are:
- X-ray
- computed tomography (CT) scan
- magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
- ultrasound
Treatment of the bone cyst on the hip (Cyst in hip joint treatment)
The cyst may require aspiration (which involves drawing the fluid out). A surgery is needed generally for the treatment. But the condition of arthritis must also be addressed to prevent further formation of the cyst in the hip.
Read more about treatment and types of bone cysts.
Traditionally, bone cysts in the hip joint have been treated with usual procedures of surgery that are used in the treatment of cysts on other locations. However, this approach is not very appropriate for cysts that are large or occur in the weight-bearing region of the joint of the hip.
Recently, improved surgical techniques and use of better instruments have made possible the use of arthroscopic surgical approaches for the treatment of cysts on the hip.
