After ignoring chronic hip pain for some time, Lady Gaga recently announced that she will undergo hip surgery for a torn labrum. Gaga felt that her hip pain was becoming worse with each day on tour. The remaining 21 performances of her tour have been canceled while Gaga recovers from hip surgery to resolve her labral tear.

An advanced minimally invasive procedure, known as hip arthroscopy, can be used to resolve labral tears and get you back to your daily activities pain free. The orthopedic surgeons at the Hip Surgery Center of Excellence in Beverly Hills are renowned experts in arthroscopic surgery and routinely perform hip arthroscopy to treat labral tears and other sources of chronic hip pain.

What Is a Labral Tear?

The labrum is a ring of soft, elastic tissue that surrounds the hip joint. By deepening the hip joint socket, the labrum provides additional support for the hip and prevents dislocation of the upper thighbone from the hip socket. It is also the connection point for various ligaments that provide stability and mobility to the hip.

Labral tears are primarily caused by femoroacetabular impingement (FAI), a condition in which the bones of the hip develop abnormally and do not fit properly within the joint. This improper fit leads to the formation of bone spurs around the femoral head and acetabulum (hip socket). Overtime, bone spurs can accelerate wear and tear on the labrum, making it more susceptible to tearing.

Labral tears may also be caused by acute traumatic injuries sustained during contact sports, including dislocation of the hip. In some cases, repetitive twisting or pivoting motions can aggravate the labrum to the point of tearing.

How Hip Arthroscopy Can Help

Hip arthroscopy is a safe and highly effective outpatient procedure for the treatment of labral tears. While conservative therapies such as anti-inflammatory medication and physical therapy can provide short-term relief, hip arthroscopy resolves your chronic hip pain at the source. The tremendous benefits for patients who undergo arthroscopic surgery instead of traditional open surgery include smaller incisions, accelerated recovery, and a lower risk of complications.

Arthroscopic surgery involves the use of high tech surgical instruments that can be inserted through very small incisions into the hip joint. Throughout the procedure, a camera-equipped device, called an arthroscope, transmits live video feed from inside the hip joint to a monitor display in the operating suite. Scar tissue and inflammatory debris is first removed from the joint to reduce further irritation and promote healing of the remaining healthy tissue. Once the tear has been located, the labrum is meticulously repaired to restore stability to the joint.

As an outpatient procedure, patients undergoing hip arthroscopy can return home within several hours of surgery. By reducing incision size, more of the hip joint is preserved and patients experience less discomfort compared with traditional open surgery. A physical rehabilitation program is often necessary to restore stability and range-of-motion to the hip, as well as to improve the overall recovery process.

Contact a Beverly Hills Orthopedic Hip Surgeon

The Hip Surgery Center of Excellence in Beverly Hills features some of the most renowned orthopedic surgeons in the country. We utilize the latest and most effective procedures when treating hip conditions, including labral tears in the hip. For more information on hip arthroscopy or to schedule a consultation with one of our talented orthopedic surgeons, call (888) 760-3378 or fill out our contact form.

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Supporting research for an alternative to hip replacement has grown in recent years. Traditionally, patients requiring a hip replacement have undergone extensive prosthesis implantation. During this procedure, the ball of the hip is replaced with an artificial metal or ceramic one, while the joint is replaced with an artificial socket fixed to the pelvic bone. After 10-20 years, the prosthesis degrades and a revisional hip replacement procedure must be performed.

Now, a slightly more conservative therapy aims to get patients back to their day-to-day activities faster and with added flexibility in their hip joints. In hip resurfacing, the ball of the hip is reshaped and capped with a metal prosthesis rather than merely replaced. The repaired hip is completed with an artificial socket similar to traditional hip replacement. By keeping more of the patient’s bone intact, your risk of dislocations and revisional surgeries is greatly reduced.

Who Is a Candidate for Hip Resurfacing?

Hip resurfacing is predominantly performed for patients with chronic arthritic pain of the hip joint. Patients under the age of 60 with strong, healthy bones are good candidates for hip resurfacing surgery. Additionally, patients should be committed to performing eight to ten weeks of physical therapy following the procedure.

How to Decide Which Treatment Is Right for You?

If you are a candidate for hip replacement or resurfacing surgery, it is important to consult an orthopedic surgeon to help receive optimal treatment for your condition. The Hip Surgery Center of Excellence in Beverly Hills offers renowned orthopedic surgeons specializing in advanced procedures such as hip resurfacing.

Advantages of Hip Resurfacing

Hip resurfacing is gaining popularity among both surgeons and patients because of its favorable outcomes. Some of the clear advantages resurfacing has over conventional hip replacement include:

• Lower risk of hip location because of bigger hip ball
• Easier to perform revisional surgery
• Greater range of motion in the hip
• Quicker recovery with more normal walking patterns

Hip resurfacing is particularly advantageous for younger patients undergoing surgery because the procedure leaves more bone intact. With more bone in place, it is easier to perform a total hip replacement if needed later on in life. Hip resurfacing also presents fewer complications.

Disadvantages of Hip Resurfacing

Though there are numerous advantages of hip resurfacing, it does have some notable disadvantages. Unlike traditional hip replacement, hip resurfacing results in a metal ball on a metal socket. Though rare, this interaction can cause pain or immune system reaction (hypersensitivity). Hip resurfacing also requires a slightly larger incision than traditional hip replacement, which may slightly increase the risk of complications. Because hip resurfacing is a more technically demanding procedure, it may be more difficult to find an orthopedic surgeon adept at the procedure.

Speak With An Orthopedic Surgeon Today

The Hip Surgery Center of Excellence houses some of the most talented hip surgeons in Beverly Hills. If you have specific questions about hip resurfacing or traditional hip replacement, please contact our Beverly Hills hip surgeons.

To speak with an orthopedic surgeon at the Hip Surgery Center of Excellence today, please call us at  (888) 760-3378.

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The success of traditional hip replacement has led some doctors to wonder why pursue minimally invasive alternatives? One new study has convincingly countered this question with a measurable advantage for minimally invasive surgery – speeding up recovery time for patients.

The study, published in the journal Value in Health, shows that the minimally invasive approach to hip replacement significantly reduces length of hospital stay (by about two to three days) compared with traditional hip replacement surgery. Faster recovery is likely due to advanced surgical techniques that minimize tissue damage during the procedure.

Advantages of Minimally Invasive Hip Replacement

Minimally invasive (MI) hip replacement is a surgical technique used to reduce pain and restore mobility to patients suffering debilitating hip arthritis. The Hip Surgery Center of Excellence in Beverly Hills offers orthopedic surgeons expertly trained in this minimally invasive procedure.

During the procedure, our surgeons replace damaged bone and cartilage with an artificial socket that is fixed to the pelvic bone. Next, the top of the thigh bone is replaced by a metallic ball to create a ball-and-socket joint that functions just like a natural hip joint.

Using minimally invasive techniques, the surgeon avoids cutting major muscles in the buttocks and thigh, tissue that would have been severed in the traditional hip replacement procedure procedure. The minimally invasive hip replacement surgery begins with an incision about 3-6 inches long. Compare this with the 10-12 inch incision of a traditional hip replacement surgery, and you can see why MI hip replacement might be more aesthetically appealing.

Other advantages of the MI approach include:

• Less trauma to muscles
• Less scar tissue formation
• Reduced risk of dislocation after surgery
• Shorter stay in hospital and quicker recovery

Recovery from a Hip Replacement Procedure

Though recovery time in the hospital following surgery is relatively short for this procedure, it requires several months of rehabilitation. Physical therapy for the hip will begin shortly after surgery to promote blood flow, regain mobility and speed up the recovery process. To avoid dislocating the joint, patients should avoid crossing their legs or bending their hips more than 90 degrees. Depending on age and specific condition, many normal activities can be resumed within a month of the surgery. Your surgeon will advise you on the best course of rehab and provide a more accurate recovery time.

Speak with a Hip Surgeon Today

The Hip Surgery Center of Excellence houses some of the most talented hip surgeons in Beverly Hills, each trained in cutting-edge minimally invasive procedures. If you have specific questions about minimally invasive hip surgery, please contact our hip surgeons and schedule an appointment. To speak with an orthopedic surgeon at the Hip Surgery Center of Excellence, please call us at  (888) 760-3378.

The post Study: Minimally Invasive Hip Replacement Leads To Shorter Hospital Stays appeared first on Hip Surgery.