MORPHOLOGICAL CHANGES IN THE TISSUES OF THE HIP JOINT IN 45-DAY EXPERIMENTAL CHRONIC COLITIS

Abstract

Chronic inflammatory diseases of the colon may be accompanied by systemic structural and functional changes in organs and tissues outside the gastrointestinal tract. The musculoskeletal system, including the hip joint, can be affected by persistent inflammatory, vascular, metabolic, and immune-mediated mechanisms. The aim of this study was to characterize the morphological changes occurring in the tissues of the hip joint during a 45-day experimental model of chronic colitis. The study focused on the articular cartilage, synovial membrane, subchondral bone, periarticular connective tissue, and microcirculatory structures. Histomorphological examination demonstrated signs of tissue remodeling, microcirculatory disturbances, inflammatory cellular infiltration, changes in the organization of connective tissue, and degenerative alterations of articular structures. The findings indicate that prolonged colonic inflammation may be associated with secondary structural changes in the hip joint and provide morphological evidence for the systemic nature of chronic inflammatory processes.