In the treatment of hip pain, nonsurgical treatment is always the initial course of action. Patients with hip conditions can experience a reduction or elimination of hip pain and inflammation with conservative treatments such as activity modification, rest, physical therapy, and/or anti-inflammatory drugs.
Corticosteroids injections are also commonly administered in case physical therapy, and anti-inflammatory drugs are not effective.
Southern California Hip Institute (SCHI), led by board certified orthopedic surgeon Dr. Tigran Garabekyan, provides orthopedic surgery to patients in Los Angeles, Century City, CA, and surrounding communities.
Hip Arthroscopy
Arthroscopy is a minimally invasive surgery used to treat various hip conditions. During open surgery, this procedure enables a surgeon to access the hip joint through several tiny incisions instead of a large incision. This shortens the recovery duration.
All hip procedures are not performed arthroscopically. Every patient has different needs, and our surgeons work closely with patients to develop a detailed surgical plan to deliver excellent results.
The doctor may recommend hip arthroscopy for the following conditions:
- Labral Tears
- Hip impingement (femoroacetabular impingement)
- Removal of loose pieces of cartilage within the hip joint
Hip Arthroscopy Procedure
The surgeon will put the patient’s leg in traction after anesthesia. They will pull the hip away from the socket to create enough space to insert instruments, view the full joint, and perform the necessary procedures.
The surgeon will place two to five tiny incisions (each less than 1 cm in length) around the hip to insert the arthroscopy camera and required surgical tools. An x-ray machine will guide the instruments into the hip joint. Sterile saline water is used to irrigate and fill the joint space to view the inside more clearly.
The surgeon will assess the joint prior to starting any specific treatments. After identifying the problem clearly, they will insert other tiny instruments through separate incisions to repair it.
Surgical Hip Dislocation
Surgical hip dislocation is an open surgery which is used to treat more substantial deformities that arthroscopy cannot address in a safe or appropriate manner. The hip joint is deep and challenging to access through the many muscles and tissues surrounding and supporting it.
This procedure allows the surgeon to get a wider hip joint to undertake specific procedures such as femoral osteochondroplasty, labral repairs, and osteotomies. Surgical hip dislocation can help address the below mentioned hip conditions:
- Surface cartilage (articular cartilage) damage
- Labral tears (damage to the labrum, which acts like a cartilage cuff surrounding the hip socket)
- Femoroacetabular impingement deformities (Cam and Pincer Deformities)
- Femoral head fractures
- Perthes Deformities
- Dysplasia
Femoral and Periacetabular Osteotomy
Osteotomies can effectively treat the abnormal alignment of the hip joint and hip dysplasia. They are open surgical procedures that involve re-orienting either the femur or the (socket) acetabulum of the hip joint to realign and relieve pressure on the hip joint.
Post-Operative and Recovery
The patient will be given a written instruction sheet, images of their surgery, a prescription for therapy, and a copy of physical therapy (PT) guidelines when they are allowed to return home from the surgical facility.
A majority of patients should be able to walk with crutches right after the surgery with partial weight bearing (placing the foot flat on the ground as the patient walks). It is integral to undergo physical therapy to attain the best results. In some cases, physical therapy can start the day after surgery.
Board certified orthopedic surgeon Dr. Tigran Garabekyan receives patients from Los Angeles, Century City, CA, and nearby areas for orthopedic surgery.
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/
