Septic hip is a bacterial infection inside the hip joint. It can develop in newborn babies and older children as well. Sometimes a fungal infection can cause this 
condition. Hip arthroscopic orthopedic surgery may have to be performed in a few cases to treat a hip joint infection.
Southern California Hip Institute (SCHI), led by board-certified orthopedic surgeon Dr. Tigran Garabekyan, provides hip arthroscopy procedures to patients in North Hollywood, Los Angeles, and surrounding communities across the horizon.
How does the Hip Get Infected?
Germs traveling through the bloodstream from other body parts, for instance, a skin boil, from a urine infection, or from a chest infection, can cause infection in the joint.
Septic arthritis may also happen when a penetrating injury carries germs directly into the joint.
What Are The Symptoms?
The symptoms of septic arthritis are as follows:
- The hip joint develops pain, and the child refuses to move that leg and hip.
- The child may limp while walking or downright refuse to walk.
- The child may feel pain in the knee joint because of referred pain.
- The infection will typically cause fever.
Is it Serious?
Septic arthritis can rapidly and seriously damage the bone and cartilage inside the joint. Therefore, it is crucial to seek prompt treatment. Septic arthritis is an orthopedic emergency.
The hip joint lining (synovium) does not have strong abilities to protect itself from germs and infection. The body responds to the infection causing inflammation. This could increase pressure and decrease the flow of blood within the joint. This may lead to the death of bone or cartilage.
In the future, there will be a risk of post-infective osteoarthritis of the affected hip joint.
What Happens during Hip Arthroscopy?
The patient is placed under general anesthesia or a form of spinal anesthesia before the arthroscopic orthopedic surgery procedure commences. For this procedure, the patient will be placed on a special operating room table known as a traction table.
The hip joint is a very tight area between the ball and socket. The surgeon uses traction to widen this space enough to insert the arthroscope. The arthroscope’s end will be moving around in this area to evaluate the joint.
Lastly, sterile drapes are placed to generate a sterile surrounding for the surgeon to work. Many pieces of equipment surround the operating table such as TV screens, light sources, cameras, and surgical instruments.
The surgeon will take special care to prevent damage to the surrounding blood vessels and nerves. The surgeon will place a small plastic or metal tube (or cannula) through one of the portals to fill the joint with sterile saline.
The camera will transmit pictures from within the hip joint onto a TV screen beside the surgeon. The surgeon views the TV screen and not the hip while maneuvering the arthroscope to various places within the joint and bursa.
After the surgeon finishes the procedure, they will close the portals and surgical incisions with surgical staples or sutures. They will also apply a bandage to the hip. The patient will be taken to the recovery room after the placement of the dressing.
Compassionate orthopedic surgeon Dr. Tigran Garabekyan receives patients from North Hollywood, Los Angeles, and other cities and suburbs in this region of The Golden State for hip arthroscopy procedures.
Dr. Tigran Garabekyan is a board certified orthopedic surgeon specializing in hip preservation. To learn more about Southern California Hip Institute or to schedule a consultation, click here to contact us or call:
Century City / Los Angeles: 310.595.1030
Serving patients in Encino, Sherman Oaks, Van Nuys, North Hollywood, Burbank, Glendale, West Hollywood, Century City, Beverly Hills, Santa Monica, Los Angeles, and other neighboring cities in the greater Los Angeles, California area.
Also visit http://www.drgorthopedics.com/
