How Does Arthroscopic Surgery Work?
Surgeons treat many orthopedic conditions with arthroscopic surgery, but you may not fully understand what this advanced surgical technique entails. Read on to learn about arthroscopy and why it’s used.
Hip impingement is diagnosed when the head of your thigh bone doesn’t fit well into your hip socket.
Corticosteroid injections, physical therapy, and movement adjustments can sometimes relieve the pain of hip impingement, but surgery is usually recommended because it reduces pain, discourages complications, and allows you to stay active.
Surgery reduces the friction at the hip caused by the bones rubbing together. That friction can lead to the painful tearing of the labrum and the onset of osteoarthritis, which will eventually require a hip replacement.
At Silicon Valley Orthopaedics, located in Fremont, California, Nic Gay, MD, Masi Reynolds, DO, and April Mancuso, MD, perform several types of surgeries to address hip impingement, many of which are done arthroscopically. The goal of surgery is to repair damage caused by impingement and reshaping of the bones so you get smooth movement at the joint.
Here’s what to expect from the surgery and how it can help you maintain a high quality of life.
In a functioning hip, the top of the thigh bone fits perfectly into the hip socket. Within the socket sits a thin layer of cartilage that cushions and protects the bone as it moves around. The labrum, a ring of soft, elastic tissue, stabilizes the hip joint and keeps the top of the thigh bone in place.
If the bones at the hip formed abnormally in childhood, they won’t fit together, causing painful friction.
You might experience pain in the groin after sitting or repetitive activity. The hip may feel stiff, and going up stairs may be painful. You’ll start to limp and have trouble flexing your hip beyond 90 degrees.
Hip impingement surgery helps relieve these symptoms and helps you get back to the activities you love.
During surgery, our team repairs any injury to the labrum. We clean any torn or frayed tissue and sew it back together. Surgery also involves reshaping the bones at the hip joint, so they fit together correctly and the painful friction ends.
Surgery can be performed arthroscopically, using small incisions and miniature tools. The arthroscope — a tiny tube with a camera and light — allows our team to see the area and treat the problem. Arthroscopic surgery usually causes less damage to surrounding tissue, so you experience less blood loss, minimal scarring, and a quick recovery.
More extensive impingement surgeries require an open procedure with larger incisions and longer recoveries.
Recovery from arthroscopic surgery may take just a few weeks. You’ll start rehabilitation right after your procedure and be able to get back to daily activities quickly. If you’re an athlete, expect it to take 4-6 months before you’re ready to fully play your sport again.
Recovery from open surgery usually takes longer. But, our team at Silicon Valley Orthopedics supports you with physical therapy and extensive rehabilitation right here at the office so you can get back to full function again.
Explore your options for hip impingement treatment and surgery by contacting Silicon Valley Orthopedics today. Call or use this website to schedule your visit.
