1400% increase in these procedures with a 4-6% reoperation rate for most patients.
Arthroscopy offers fewer complications with superior outcomes.
WHAT IS ARTHROSCOPY?
Hip arthroscopy, or often called a “hip scope,” is one of the most rapidly growing procedures in Orthoapedic Surgery. It is a minimally invasive procedure during which Dr. Cancienne uses an arthroscope through an incision about the size of a fingertip to examine and treat pathology within the hip joint. Dr. Cancienne received specialty training at Midwest Orthoapedics at Rush in Chicago, IL under Dr. Shane Nho, one of the global leaders and pioneers of hip arthroscopy. While there, Dr. Cancienne gained invaluable experience and knowledge on the latest, evidence-based techniques and treatment strategies to treat pre arthritic hip pain in active individuals.
Indications of Hip Arthroscopy
Hip arthroscopy can be used to treat a number of conditions including labral tears, loose bodies, cartilage damage, and bony impingement. The most common indication for hip arthroscopy is femoroacetabular impingement. This occurs when there is bony impingement resulting in pain with activity, which, over time, can result in labral tearing and progressive arthritis.
Hip Arthroscopy Procedure
Hip arthroscopy is performed under general anesthesia. Dr. Cancienne will first make two to three small, one-quarter inch, incisions called portals to access the hip joint. Following access into the joint, the joint is filled with a sterile, water-based solution in order to improve the space available to work and improve visualization. Once the joint has been accessed, Dr. Cancienne will examine the condition of the articular cartilage, labrum, and acetabulum or hip socket. Based on Dr. Cancienne’s pre-operative examination, pre-operative imaging, and findings at the time of surgery, he will carry out an individualized treatment plan for the patient. For bony impingement, this typically includes a labral repair, femoral bony resection, and complete capsular closure. Patients will go home the same day of surgery and be placed on crutches to limit weight bearing for a short period of time.
Advantages of Hip Arthroscopy
The advantages of hip arthroscopy over the traditional open hip surgery include:
- Smaller incisions
- Minimal trauma to surrounding ligaments, muscles and tissues
- Less pain
- Faster recovery
- Lower infection rate
- Less scarring
- Early mobilization
- Outpatient procedure
Hip Arthroscopy Recovery
- Patients will go through a staged rehabilitation process that is detailed in the rehabilitation protocol section of the website
- Symptoms often improve relatively quickly following the procedure, however, the hip may be irritable during recovery and physical therapy
- Swelling will subside within one week
- Full recovery varies on the age and activity level of the patient, and these protocols are patient specific to meet the individual goals of each patient
