What Is Hip Arthroscopy And What Does It Treat?

Sometimes known as Hip Scope, is a minimally invasive surgery where the orthopedic surgeon will examine the inside of your hip joint by using an arthroscope. This procedure allows your surgeon to diagnose the hip of your hip pain, as well as other problems in the joint. There are also some problems that could be treated arthroscopically.

Keep in mind that arthroscope is often used for smaller problems. For example, if you need a hip replacement surgery, you are more likely to be recommended the robotic hip replacement. This is similar to a traditional hip replacement, where the surgeon will remove the damaged tissue and replace it with an artificial join.

If you are experiencing pain in your hips, make sure to visit your doctor.

Who is a candidate for arthroscopy?

This is often recommended to younger patients who experience hip pain but do not need a hip replacement. If you are experiencing issues with moving because of the hip joint, arthroscopy might help.

Usually, your healthcare provider will recommend the procedure once the problem has been identified. In most cases, your doctor will recommend other treatment forms that do not require a surgery. But if they do not work, then your healthcare provider will consider other ways to help you.

Hip arthroscopy can help if your doctor suspects:

• Hip labral tear
• Hip impingement
• Bone spurs
• Loose fragments
• Synovitis

These conditions are known to contribute to the development of hip arthritis, thus treating them can help delay or slow down this progression. This helps postpone the need of hip replacement surgery, which should not be taken lightly.

Advantages of hip arthroscopy

There are several advantages compared to the traditional open hip surgery. For example:

• It causes little trauma to the joint, which minimizes pain and scarring.
• It does not take long to recover from it.
• It is often done as an outpatient procedure, meaning that the patient can return home on the same day.
• Can help postpone the advancement of hip arthritis.
• Can delay or eliminate the need to have a hip replacement surgery.

What happens before arthroscopy?

The first thing you need to do is talk to your doctor. Scheduling a consultation with a professional can help you learn more about your issue and how to properly deal with it. If arthroscopy can help, here are some things you’ll have to do before the surgery:

• Avoid certain medications – if you have some medication you are taking, make sure to tell your doctor about it. This includes all the herbal supplements, as well. Drugs that prevent blood clots could cause complications during surgery. Your doctor might ask you to stop taking certain medication or adjust your routine in general.
• Stop smoking – smoking can cause many health issues overall, but it is also known to make it harder for your body to heal. So your doctor will ask you to stop smoking altogether.
• Reduce your alcohol intake – alcohol is known to thin your blood, and that can make it very dangerous during and after the surgery. So make sure to avoid drinking alcohol.
• Fast – you will also be asked to avoid eating or drinking anything before the surgery. When the surgery is schedule, you should not eat or drink anything at least 12h before.

After the surgery

This is an outpatient surgery, which means that you can go home on the same day. For three weeks after the surgery, people will usually have to wear a brace on the hop. You will also have to use crutches for a couple of weeks, and for at least a week not put any weight on your hip.

Recovery plans are usually personalized, because we are all different. Check out the hip arthroscopy in Melbourne for more information. Your doctor will go over the personalized plan with you after the surgery.

Listen to your doctor’s orders to have the best results

What are the risks?

Every surgery has its own risks. No matter how invasive the surgery is, there are potential risk sand dangers you need to be aware of. For arthroscopy these can include:

• Having a reaction to the anesthesia.
• Blood clots, which includes DVT.
• Damage to the surrounding nerves or tissues.
• Excessive swelling ort bleeding.
• A need for further surgery if the issues do not improve.
• Numbness or tingling in the thighs, feet, or groin.

Final word

Most people will recover from this surgery in about six weeks. The exact time cannot be known, because everyone’s case is different. You should talk to your doctor to learn more about the surgery, what you can expect, and other necessary information about the overall procedure and recovery.