There Is a New Surgery in Town - Hip Arthroscopy - That May Help
Imagine you’re training for a marathon, and suddenly you develop a pain in your hip. It may hurt when you run, during daily activities, or when you sleep, and sometimes it also aches or throbs. One reason for this pain may be a hip labral tear. These can happen to anyone, but they are most common in athletes who participate in high-impact sports.
There are a couple of ways to treat a labral tear, but if surgery is needed, a hip arthroscopy is a minimally invasive option.
“Hip arthroscopy is a surgical procedure used to diagnose and treat a variety of conditions affecting the hip joint,” said Dr. Sheeba Joseph, sports medicine surgeon with MSU Health Care. “Using a small camera and specialized instruments inserted through tiny incisions, surgeons can treat problems such as labral tears, abnormalities in the shape of the hip socket (acetabulum) or femoral head, and certain soft tissue injuries around the joint. Previously, repairing these injuries required open surgery and full hip dislocation—an approach with longer recovery times and higher risk.”
For people who are actively training to compete or just for fun, an injury to the hip can be devastating. The hip joint plays a crucial role in nearly all athletic movements. From explosive bursts of speed to pivoting, jumping, and even the repetitive motion of endurance sports, the hip is fundamental.
An injury can sideline an athlete for extended periods, disrupt training, and cause a psychological impact. As they face limitations and uncertainty, athletes can experience frustration, anxiety, and a sense of loss.
“Someone who is a candidate for hip arthroscopy is physically active and diagnosed with a labral tear, signs of femoroacetabular impingement, and doesn’t have arthritis or hip dysplasia,” said Dr. Joshua Goethals, sports medicine surgeon with Michigan Orthopedic Center. “The largest benefit of this procedure is repairing a labral tear and performing an osteoplasty to relieve femoroacetabular impingement. This is a condition where extra bone forms and causes impingement in the hip joint. This causes labral tears and osteoarthritis. Hip arthroscopy can shave this bone and prevent further progression of osteoarthritis.”
A hip arthroscopy is an outpatient procedure, which means you would likely go home from the hospital the same day. Most patients will be weight-bearing with crutches for three weeks to relieve pressure on the surrounding muscles. Return to normal daily activities typically takes two to three months, while return to sports may take four to six months, based on the individual and level of activity.
“Our goal is to help patients recover faster, with less pain, and get back to doing what they love—whether that’s athletics or an active lifestyle without discomfort,” said Dr. Joseph.
Hip arthroscopy can be performed locally at McLaren Greater Lansing and is just one of many minimally invasive, state-of-the-art orthopedic procedures that can be performed at the hospital. For more information on the Orthopedic and Sports Medicine Institute at McLaren Greater Lansing, click here.
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