Exploring Arthroscopic Hip Surgery

While relatively uncommon, arthroscopic hip surgery can provide effective treatment for numerous conditions. Learn more about this procedure and its many benefits.

You have hip joint issues. You’re going to undergo arthroscopic hip surgery. And you’ve got questions.

Don’t worry - you’re not alone. In fact, it’d be strange to be preparing for arthroscopic hip surgery and not have questions. Knowledge and familiarity with the specifics of your condition, treatment, and your arthroscopic hip surgery recovery will help and reassure you during each stage of the treatment process and will ensure the fastest and most effective possible recovery.

So let’s take a look at the things that are concerning you - and let this critical information from the orthopedic experts at Rothman Orthopaedic Institute answer some of the most common questions patients ask.

What To Expect From Arthroscopic Hip Surgery

The experts at Rothman Orthopaedic Institute specialize in arthroscopic hip surgery, which means they’ve worked personally with many hip patients - and are familiar with the types of question that hip patients ask. Here are some of the most common, recurring questions that can help you to know what to expect from arthroscopic hip surgery.

What hip conditions can arthroscopic surgery treat?

There are numerous hip conditions that nonsurgical treatments, such as rest, physical therapy, and medicine are ineffective at treating. Nonsurgical treatment will fail to relieve the pain, immobility, and inflammation that are caused by hip conditions. In these cases, your doctor or specialist will likely recommend a surgical solution.

Some of the conditions that can be treated with arthroscopic hip surgery include:

• Labral tears

• Femoroacetabular impingement

• Snapping hip syndromes

• Hip joint infections

• Loose bone/cartilage fragments within the hip joint

Surgery can effectively treat the symptoms of these conditions (including pain, immobility, and inflammation) and bring long-term relief to patients.

What does the arthroscopic hip replacement surgery procedure involve?

Arthroscopic hip surgery is not a common procedure, so it is important that you pursue a surgical solution from experienced experts, like the specialists at Rothman Orthopaedic Institute. Though not common, arthroscopic surgery has numerous benefits, including reduced scarring and a shorter recovery time.

Arthroscopic surgery employs very small, specialized instruments to perform minimally invasive procedures. The surgical process begins with the hip being pulled away from the joint socket, which creates the room necessary for the surgeon to inspect the joint, insert the surgical tools, and perform the operation. This process is called applying “traction”.

The next step is for the surgeon to create a small incision in the hip through which the arthroscope can be inserted and used to visually assess the internal damage within the hip.

Depending on the degree of damage, the surgeon will then perform several procedures, including smoothing and repairing torn cartilage, trimming bone spurs, and removing inflamed tissue.

Are there any common arthroscopic hip surgery complications I should know about?

One of the major benefits of arthroscopic surgery is that it is generally considered safer than conventional hip surgeries. This means that complications are uncommon, though all hip surgeries involve risk including rare instances of blood clots and infection.

What is the typical arthroscopic hip surgery recovery time?

Another key benefit of arthroscopic hip surgery is a generally reduced recovery time. Most patients are discharged from the hospital a few hours following surgery.

Your recovery period will involve physical therapy (in most cases) and plenty of rest and reduced activity. For many patients, the use of crutches will be necessary for 1-2 months. Ultimately, however, arthroscopic hip surgery yields effective long-term relief from hip joint conditions and allows patients to live fully active, uninhibited lives. If you’re considering hip surgery or would like to learn more about hip conditions and treatments, contact the experts at Rothman Orthopaedic Institutetoday.

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