Minimally Invasive Hip Procedures
March 22, 2019
Beacon Orthopaedics leads the region in minimally invasive treatment options.
Repairing damaged hip joints can be done with a surgical technique called “arthroplasty.” This minimally invasive procedure is fairly common and allows a surgeon to operate through a small tool called a “cannula.” The surgeon can interchange different types of equipment through the cannula, all while seeing inside the joint using a tiny camera. Dr. Drew Burleson is a leading hip surgeon in South Dayton who operates at the Ambulatory Surgery Center at Beacon Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine. He treats patients in the Dayton area, including athletes and non-athletes of all ages, using minimally invasive hip procedures.
Hip damage can be the result of trauma, such as a car accident or sports injury, but it can also occur chronically as the body ages. Often the cartilage that protects the bones in the joint begins to wear out as less blood and nutrients are delivered. An inactive lifestyle or overactive lifestyle can also lead to accelerated degeneration.
Potential reasons for hip pain or stiffness include:
- Lower blood supply to the joint
- Osteo or rheumatoid arthritis
- Bone spurs
- Femoroacetabular impingement (FAI)
- Labral/cartilage damage
- Trauma or injury
- Joint infection
- Bursitis or tendonitis (also called tendonosis)
- Untreated problem from the past, such as overuse
The good news is that many common hip injuries and conditions are easily treated with arthroscopy by Dr. Burleson. Even better news may be that many patients can experience a full recovery through physical therapy, injections, or other nonsurgical treatments. More damaging conditions, such as advanced arthritis, may require a minimally invasive hip replacement, but talking to Dr. Burleson about your condition will allow him to make the right treatment recommendation for your goals and medical situation.
If arthroscopy is the best treatment option for you, there are two major advantages compared to a traditional open surgery: shorter recovery time and preservation of healthy tissue, resulting in less scar tissue damage left behind.
Preservation of healthy tissue
In the past, to repair damaged tissue meant cutting through healthy tissue. Although this process ultimately fixed the problem, it caused additional trauma to muscles and ligaments around the joint. Using an arthroscope now allows a surgeon to access the hip joint while preserving as much healthy tissue as possible. Smaller incisions also mean that patients have wider ranges of motion without adding stress to the surgical site.
Less scar tissue
Another primary benefit of arthroscopy is that the smaller incisions mean less scar tissue after recovery. For some patients, scar tissue can cause additional stiffness, discomfort, or restrict range of motion after an open joint surgery. Use of an arthroscope for minimally invasive hip surgery effectively prevents this problem.
For more information
If you are suffering from a hip injury or condition, a hip arthroscopy might be the best treatment option for you. Dr. Burleson will provide a thorough physical exam and a comprehensive review of your medical history. He also uses diagnostic imaging, such as MRI and X-ray, to ensure that he recommends the most effective treatment. If more conservative options like physical therapy and injections don’t provide the desired results, you can rest assured that Dr. Burleson is a leader in orthopaedic arthroscopy in the Cincinnati and Dayton area.
Take the next step to stop your hip pain and schedule your appointment with Dr. Drew Burleson at Beacon Orthopaedics. You may also schedule by phone 24/7 at 513.354.3700.