Through a unique collaboration with McGovern Medical School at UTHealth, affiliated orthopedic surgeons and the Memorial Hermann sports medicine team provides adolescents and young adults with a full range of surgical and nonsurgical treatments to restore and preserve patients’ natural hip function.
The multidisciplinary team of surgeons, musculoskeletal imaging experts, specialized hip physical therapists and other health care providers work collaboratively to accurately diagnose and tailor a treatment regimen to treat both the symptoms and the underlying causes of hip pain. The goal of treatment is to maximize the patient’s natural hip function using the most effective, least invasive option. Often, a patient can be treated with nonoperative techniques, such as activity modification, injections or physical therapy. If surgery is required, the team has the ability to perform the full spectrum of hip preservation surgeries, from minimally-invasive hip arthroscopy to complex hip osteotomies.
The hip is a ball-and-socket joint comprised of the femur (thigh bone) and the pelvic bone. The head of the femur (ball) articulates with a cavity (socket) called the acetabulum in the pelvic bone. To facilitate smooth and near frictionless movement of the hip joint, the articulating surfaces of the femur head and acetabulum are covered by spongy articular cartilage. Injury, wear-and-tear and certain diseases can result in the wearing away of the cartilage tissue, causing painful rubbing of bones.
Hip replacement surgeries, in which damaged parts of the hip joint are removed and replaced with a prosthesis, have long been the choice of treatment. In patients, however, the prostheses are highly prone to wear-and-tear, necessitating repeat surgeries. By contrast, hip preservation is a surgery that overcomes the limitations of joint replacement by repairing or revising the patient’s own natural hip., in which damaged parts of the hip joint are removed and replaced with a prosthesis, have long been the choice of treatment. In patients, however, the prostheses are highly prone to wear-and-tear, necessitating repeat surgeries. By contrast, hip preservation is a surgery that overcomes the limitations of joint replacement by repairing or revising the patient’s own natural hip., in which damaged parts of the hip joint are removed and replaced with a prosthesis, have long been the choice of treatment. In patients, however, the prostheses are highly prone to wear-and-tear, necessitating repeat surgeries. By contrast, hip preservation is a surgery that overcomes the limitations of joint replacement by repairing or revising the patient’s own natural hip., in which damaged parts of the hip joint are removed and replaced with a prosthesis, have long been the choice of treatment. In patients, however, the prostheses are highly prone to wear-and-tear, necessitating repeat surgeries. By contrast, hip preservation is a surgery that overcomes the limitations of joint replacement by repairing or revising the patient’s own natural hip.
Some of the conditions indicated for hip preservation surgery include:
Hip preservation surgery employs various techniques:
The various hip preservation surgeries for severe hip pain and dysfunction in young and active patients have been found to be beneficial, and help avoid or delay the need for hip replacement surgery. Determining the best approach is individualized to each patient based on careful review of imaging, specific and thorough examination and previous medical history.
After arthroscopic surgery, many patients go home the same day and can generally return to normal activity after about four months. The typical hospital stay for osteotomy patients is two to three days, with about six months before they return to normal activity. Patients who have undergone any of these procedures usually walk on crutches for about two months and undergo about six months of specialized rehabilitation, including physical therapy. Patients generally require follow-up X-rays at one- to five-year intervals. Long-term care also includes careful attention to potential development of arthritis.
Hip preservation treatment is available at Memorial Hermann-Texas Medical Center and Memorial Hermann Memorial City Medical Center. Schedule an appointment online or by calling (713) 222-2273
Fill out the form below for more information on Hip Preservation from Memorial Hermann Joint Centers.