What is hip arthroscopy?
Arthroscopy is a minimally invasive procedure that allows your doctor at Restore Orthopedics and Spine Center to view the joint, diagnose the cause of your symptoms, and perform surgery to repair the problem.
It’s minimally invasive because the procedure is done using a few small incisions, which offer important health benefits over traditional open surgery that requires a long incision. With arthroscopy, you have less bleeding and postoperative pain, your recovery takes less time, and you’ll have minimal scarring.
The key tool, an arthroscope, contains lighting and a camera that displays magnified images of your hip joint on a monitor. Your doctor uses the enhanced visualization to guide specialized surgical instruments contained in long, narrow tubes inserted through the incisions.
What causes hip pain?
Your doctors at Restore Orthopedics may recommend hip arthroplasty when you have ongoing pain that doesn’t improve with nonsurgical treatments. Hip pain is caused by a variety of problems, but some of the most common include:
- Osteoarthritis
- Bursitis and tendinitis
- Hip impingement syndrome
- Hip fractures and dislocations
- Sprains and strains
The first line of treatment for most conditions includes medical care, physical therapy, and temporarily modifying your activities. A fracture or torn muscle, however, may need surgery right at the start to restore optimal strength and function.
What conditions may require hip arthroscopy?
Hip arthroscopy is a good option for removing bone spurs, damaged tendons, and inflamed tissues. The doctors at Restore Orthopedics and Spine Center often perform hip arthroscopy to treat:
Labral tears
The labrum is an extra piece of cartilage that covers the rim of the hip socket. It protects the joint and improves joint stability by deepening the pocket that holds the upper part of your leg bone. Labral tears are common hip injuries because the rim of cartilage is susceptible to acute and repetitive use injuries.
Hip impingement
Hip impingement, or femoroacetabular impingement (FAI), occurs when extra bone grows on one or both bones that form the hip joint. As a result, the bones assumes an irregular shape and bone rubs against bone, causing pain and stiffness. Over time, hip impingement damages the joint.
Loose bodies
Loose bodies occur when small pieces of bone or cartilage break loose and move around in the hip joint, and they can be removed during hip arthroscopy.
If you suffer from hip pain and stiffness, call Restore Orthopedics and Spine Center or book an appointment online.
