Hip Preservation
‘Hip Preservation Surgery’ is a non-specific term that refers to surgical methods aimed at preserving your own hip and essentially avoiding a hip replacement. Ideally, in order to be a candidate for this type of surgery, the vast majority of the cartilage in the joint has to still be intact. This means that, ideally, the hip shouldn’t have any arthritis, or at the very least minor symptoms.
Unfortunately, in some patients, too much cartilage has been damaged. In these cases, hip preservation is not an option and a consultation with a hip replacement surgeon is required.
Osteotomies around the Hip
Surgeries on the hip socket side are called ‘acetabular osteotomies’ or ‘pelvic osteotomies’ and of these the PAO (periacetabular osteotomy) is the most common type for young adults. This is also called the Ganz or Bernese osteotomy because it was developed by Professor Ganz in Berne, Switzerland.
Surgery on the top of the thigh bone (just below the hip joint on the ball side of the joint) are called ‘femoral osteotomies’. There may be varus (tilting the hip in) or valgus (tilting the hip out), or an isolated trochanteric procedure, depending on the precise aim of surgery.
The conditions that can be treated with osteotomies around the hip are as follows:
- Hip Dysplasia
- Consequence of Paediatric Hip Disease
- Slipped Upper Femoral Epiphysis
- Perthes’ Disease
- Avascular Necrosis
- Transverse Plane Mal-Alignment in the Femur (Miserable Mal-Alignment)
Hip and Knee Pain
In younger patients, an underlying hip deformity or joint problem can cause one or more of the following symptoms:
- Activity-Related Hip Pain (Especially in the Front of the Hip, Groin Region, or Even Knee)
- Discomfort with Prolonged Walking, Running, Pivoting, Sitting, Hip Flexion Motion, or Various Other Impact Activities
- A Soft Tissue Injury around the Hip Typically Responds to Standard Nonsurgical Treatment in 6 to 8 Weeks. If Symptoms Last 3 to 4 Months, A Hip Joint Problem May Be the Cause
Contact me in Bristol, Avon, for more information about treatments for young adults from a respectable orthopaedic surgeon.