Hip Arthroscopy
Doctors can use hip arthroscopy for viewing the hip joint without having to make a large incision through the soft tissues. Arthroscopy is used for diagnosing and treating a broad range of hip troubles. The surgeon will insert a small camera in the hip joint. This camera is called an arthroscope. Pictures will be displayed by the camera on a video monitor. Your surgeon will guide miniature surgical instruments using these images.
The surgical instruments and arthroscope used are very thin and can be inserted through small incisions. You won’t need large incisions as required during open surgery. This means you won’t feel as much pain. You would also experience less joint stiffness and shorter recovery period.
Board certified orthopedic surgeon Dr. Tigran Garabekyan provides hip surgery to patients in Los Angeles, Century City, CA, and surrounding communities.
When Does Hip Arthroscopy Help?
Hip arthroscopy may be recommended by your doctor if you have pain in your hips that is not responding to a noninvasive procedure. Painful symptoms may be relieved by your hip arthroscopy. You would also be able to prevent damage to the articular cartilage, labrum, and other soft tissues around the joint. Several orthopedic conditions can cause this problem although it is usually because of an injury. These conditions include:
- Femoroacetabular impingement (FAI): This disorder occurs when there is an extra bone developing on the femoral head (cam impingement) or around the acetabulum (pincer impingement). Soft tissues are damaged because of bone spurs or overgrowth.
- Dysplasia: In this condition, the hip socket is abnormally shallow. The condition places more stress on the labrum for keeping the femoral head inside the socket. The labrum becomes more susceptible to tears.
- Snapping hip syndrome: In this condition, tendons begin rubbing across the exterior area of the joint. Often times, this type of popping or snapping is harmless and doesn’t require treatment. However, in some cases, the tendon may get damaged from repeated rubbing.
- Synovitis: In this condition, tissues surrounding the joint become inflamed.
- Loose bodies are cartilage or bone fragments that become loose and begin moving around within the joint.
- Hip joint infection.
Arthroscopy Surgical Procedure
Your leg will be placed in traction at the beginning of the procedure. Your surgeon will create a small puncture, the size of a buttonhole, within the hip after the traction is applied. The surgeon will be able to look within the hip and identify damage through the arthroscope.
Arthroscope has fluid flowing through it to control bleeding and keep the view clear. Images would be projected on the video screen to show the inside of your hips and all related problems to the surgeon. The surgeon will evaluate the hip joint before starting any specific treatment.
Small instruments will be inserted through separate incisions once the problem is identified to repair the damage. Depending on your needs, a wide range of procedures would be performed, such as:
- Bone spurs caused by the FAI
- Smoothening off torn cartilage
- Removing inflamed synovial tissue
A specialist in orthopedic surgery of the hip, Dr. Garabekyan receives patients from Los Angeles, Century City, CA, and nearby areas for safe and proven hip procedures.
Contact the Southern California Hip Institute
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 Los Angeles, Beverly Hills, Santa Monica, Century City, West Hollywood, North Hollywood Encino, Sherman Oaks, Van Nuys, Burbank, Glendale and other neighboring cities in the greater Los Angeles, California area.
Also visit http://www.drgorthopedics.com/
