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The goal of treatment is to keep the head of the femur (the ball of the thighbone) inside the socket through the course of the disease. Your doctor may call this principle "containment".
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Containment is achieved by maintaining a good range of motion of the hip. Stiffness is initially caused by inflammation in the hip joint, which can be reduced with physical therapy and medications like ibuprofen. When the hip is painful or the limp is worse, it may help to restrict vigorous activity, like running, to reduce the inflammation. Night-time traction may help.
Doctors no longer require several months of enforced bedrest, because that does not help.
When conservative steps fail, surgery may be required to keep the hip joint in the socket. Surgery ranges from simple lengthening of a groin muscle to major hip surgery to reshape the pelvis, depending on the severity of the problem and the shape of the ball of the hip joint.
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