Millions of Americans’ lives are impacted each year by hip pain. Because pain could be caused by a wide variety of conditions, correctly diagnosing the cause is important to creating an effective treatment plan.
Experienced, Technologically-Advanced Care
At Porter Medical Center, our orthopedic team’s expertise is rooted in scientific research and innovation. We use leading diagnostic services, cutting-edge technology and robotic surgery for treatment of hip pain, and provide rehabilitative treatment if necessary.
We will meet with you and answer any questions you have, taking the time to develop a treatment plan that is right for you.
Hip Injuries: What You Need to Know
What is Hip Pain?
Hip pain is a common problem, especially for older adults. The hip moves with a ball-and-socket joint that has the capacity to withstand repeated motion over the course of a lifetime. Even so, the mechanisms of the hip joint can become worn down or damaged.
Symptoms of hip pain could include discomfort on the inside or outside of the hip joint, but also in the groin, thighs, or buttocks. For some, hip pain causes a reduced range of motion and may get worse with a particular activity.
Prevention of Hip Pain
Maintaining a healthy weight, getting regular exercise, and eating calcium-rich foods are important steps to strengthening the bones and muscles around the hip joint and preventing wear and tear.
Causes of Hip Pain
Some common causes of hip pain include arthritis, injuries (like a fracture or bursitis), pinched nerves (like sciatica), or certain types cancer.
Another common cause of hip pain is osteoarthritis of the hip.
Osteoarthritis of the Hip
Arthritis, or joint inflammation, occurs when the cartilage that cushions joints has been worn away. Osteoarthritis is the most common form of arthritis. The result of wear and tear on a joint, osteoarthritis is a degenerative disease that progresses slowly over many years. As the cartilage breaks down because of inflammation or injury, the patient experiences pain and swelling in the joint. Osteoarthritis occurs most often in people who are 50 years old or older, and risk factors for osteoarthritis of the hip include family history, age, obesity, and previous injuries or hip disorders.
Diagnosis and Treatment: Hip Injuries
Hip pain could be caused by an acute injury or a slowly progressing disorder. Knowing the cause is necessary to develop an appropriate treatment plan. If you see a physician for hip pain, the doctor will ask about your symptoms and physical activity before performing a physical exam and may order tests, like an X-ray or MRI. The diagnostic team will review the results and make a diagnosis. Your physician may recommend non-surgical treatments like resting the hip, stopping the problem activity, or losing weight.
Arthroscopic Hip Surgery
Arthroscopic hip surgery is a minimally invasive surgery that occurs through the insertion of a tiny camera into a small incision. Through fiber optic technology, the orthopedic surgeon can see the inside of the hip joint displayed on a television monitor. The surgeon may perform arthroscopic surgery to diagnose the cause of hip pain but can also make additional incisions and insert surgical instruments to perform specific tasks, including:
- Removing loose pieces of cartilage that can become caught in the hip joint
- Taking a biopsy sample of the synovial membrane, the tissue that lines the hip joint
- Repairing or removing torn pieces of labram, the cartilage that lines the hip joint
- As opposed to open hip surgery, arthroscopic surgery creates reduced scarring and pain and shortens recovery time.
Hip Replacement Surgery
Hip replacement surgery, generally utilized by people with arthritis in the hip, can involve either partial replacement of the hip joint or full replacement of the hip joint.
Partial Hip Replacement Surgery
In a partial hip replacement, the surgeon replaces half of the hip joint. Leaving the joint intact, the surgeon replaces only the ball of the thigh bone that has been damaged, often because of a fractured or broken hip.
Total Hip Replacement Surgery
In a total hip replacement, the surgeon removes the diseased bone and tissue and replaces it with a complete, artificial hip joint. The type of implant can be customized to age, gender, and lifestyle. Our surgeons offer technologically-advanced tools to improve outcomes and reduce patient discomfort. Through robotic surgery that uses computer-assisted navigation, surgeons use an interactive display to track the exact position of the hip joint, lowering the risk of post-operative dislocation or future corrective surgeries and improving joint stability and range of motion. With minimally invasive and small incision techniques, surgeons reduce scarring as well as damage to underlying tissue, blood loss, and recovery time.
Total hip replacement is one of the most common and most successful orthopedic surgeries, allowing people to return to activities they love without pain.
Anterior Hip Replacement Surgery
Some individuals could be candidates for anterior hip replacement surgery, an alternative to traditional hip replacement surgery. In anterior hip replacement, the surgeon uses the state-of-the-art Hana Table to position the leg in a way that allows the surgeon to reach the hip joint between the muscles to limit trauma to soft tissue. The position of the hip joint implant is confirmed throughout the procedure with X-ray imaging. Compared to traditional hip replacement surgery, anterior hip replacement has the potential for faster recovery time, less time spent in the hospital, and reduced pain after the procedure.
Get the personalized care you need. Call today to request an appointment at 802-388-3194.