Your hip joints are some of the most load-bearing joints in your body, making the hip a common place for injury. Wear and tear within the hip joints can cause pain for many people. Hip pain and hip injuries are not limited to the elderly, but are also common among people who are athletic, pregnant or overweight.
At Ortho Sport & Spine Physicians, we offer Hip Arthroscopy, a minimally invasive technique that can restore function and provide effective pain relief for a variety of hip conditions such as hip labral tears, hip impingement (femoroacetabular impingement) and the removal of loose fragments of cartilage inside the hip joint.
What is Hip Arthroscopy?
Hip arthroscopy is a minimally invasive surgery using a small camera called an arthroscope. The arthroscope allows a surgeon to see the entire joint, insert surgical instruments and perform the needed procedures.
Compared to open surgery, hip arthroscopy results in less pain and scarring, with smaller incisions, few complications, less risk of infection and a shorter recovery time. These advantages can result in hip preservation, eliminating the need for later hip replacement.
How is The Hip Arthroscopy Performed?
Before the procedure, an Ortho Sport & Spine Physicians professional will discuss your medical condition and the procedures to be performed, as well as any necessary post-op recovery treatment, such as physiotherapy, pain medication, sleeping on your side, avoiding excessive physical activity and heavy lifting.
Anaesthesia will be used to numb the hip area, keeping it pain-free. A special type of boot then applies traction to your foot, which separates the ball and socket of the hip joint just enough for the surgeon to see between the joint and perform the necessary procedures.
Two to four small incisions will be made on the side of your hip, each typically between 5 to 10 millimeters in length. Through these small incisions, the surgeon passes the arthroscope into your joint. An x-ray machine is used to guide the arthroscope into the hip joint. The surgeon can then visualize your hip joint and evaluate the joint before performing any specific treatments.
Hip arthroscopy typically takes between 40 minutes to 2 hours, although the length of time can vary depending on the procedure. Once the procedure has been completed, you’ll be able to go home within a couple of hours with crutches.
Contact Ortho Sport & Spine Physicians for more information or to schedule a hip pain consultation with one of our specialists.
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