Hip arthroscopy is a specialized, minimally invasive procedure performed by experts in hip surgery in Turkey, and is one of the best modern methods introduced by Turkey in its hospitals.
Hip arthroscopy offers new options for surgeons in Turkey, as it allows them to treat or stop the development of many problems of the hip joint, as arthroscopic surgeries have become very popular for treating joint problems due to the lack of side effects and complications and the cosmetic form is better than open surgery.
The arthroscopic hip operation gave the world and athletes a hope to continue practicing their profession in the event of an injury to the pelvis and hip, as the previous operations carried many undesirable results due to the difficulty of overlapping the pelvic joints. Continue with us in this article to learn about this operation and whether it is beneficial for your condition. .
Hip arthroscopy and the history of this operation
The field of endoscopy of the hip joint and the joints of the body in general has developed since the beginning of the twenty-first century, when doctors saw the benefit of the endoscope and the advantages and positives it offers in the field of orthopedic and joint surgery. clearer view).
Especially after the success of arthroscopy for both The knee joint orshoulder joint Doctors resorted to applying this technique, both in diagnosing various conditions and diseases that affect the hip joint, and in preparing for surgery, whether it was Total hip replacement or Robotic hip replacement, or even for the total treatment of some disorders of the hip joint such as Hip arthritis (afor osteoporosis in the hip) and many others.
The hip arthroscopy is performed by making several incisions or openings (usually 3 incisions) with a width of 1-2 cm for each opening, where surgical tools and an imaging camera are inserted that allow complete visualization of the hip joint, and then the hip joint is examined, and these tools differ according to the treatment case.
Why did modern medicine move to perform laparoscopic operations, especially in the field of orthopedic surgery?
The field of arthroscopy has been very successful, especially in the field of sports injuries, because it reduces the long recovery period in the case of open joint surgery, as athletes want to return to their sports activity as soon as possible, which was provided by arthroscopy of the hip and joints in general.
Also, the cost of laparoscopic operations is not that high compared to other surgical methods, and since complications are more evident in open surgical methods, laparoscopic operations were the solution and the best option for these diseases.
Arthroscopic operations have also been introduced recently in hand, wrist and ankle surgeries (they have helped with ankle injuries a great deal).Attachment replacement orthe shoulder It was also applied in the treatment carpal tunnel syndrome Also, help out Total knee replacement He provided a solution to the problems associated with the artificial knee and many other artificial replacement operations.
Cases that can be treated through hip arthroscopy
Hip arthroscopy has allowed doctors to treat diseases that were previously untreatable, as this operation can be performed with the utmost precision without the complications usually seen or resorting to a hip replacement.
Among these diseases and disorders we mention:
- Friction of the hip joint: It is the most important cause of inflammation and laceration of the hip joint, as it has serious complications on the joint and leads to greatly limiting the movement of the hip.
- Rupture of the hip labrum: It is a special cartilage that lines the socket of the hip joint (the acetabulum), and is often associated with hip dislocation and friction of the hip joint.
- Hip arthroscopy is performed to remove foreign bodies, growths, and excess protrusions that cause pressure and impaction in the joint.
- In the case of inflammation of the hip joint to remove the inflamed tissue and reduce the progression of the disease.
- Repair of torn ligaments and damaged cartilage in the hip joint.
How is hip arthroscopy performed?
Hip arthroscopy is performed in Turkey at the Bone and Joint Surgery Hospital (department) by a surgeon or a specialist in bone and joint operations of the body.
The arthroscopic hip procedure is often a simple procedure and the patient is discharged on the same day from the hospital, but it is preferable to stay the next day to get the best medical care in the first hours after the operation.
Preparations before hip arthroscopy
The doctor may ask the patient to stop some medications that can cause problems during anesthesia or increase bleeding, and he will also be asked to stop eating eight hours before the hip arthroscopy.
Mostly, the operation is performed in the operating room in a hospital under general anesthesia, if the patient wants to sleep during the operation, but the patient may be willing to stay awake during the operation, or general anesthesia may not be appropriate, so doctors then resort to regional or local anesthesia.
There are two positions in which doctors can perform arthroscopic hip surgery, which is that the patient is either supine on his back or on his side (lateral position), depending on the overlapping limb.
The patient will lie on the operating table and his foot will be retracted (skeletal retraction) in order to widen the articular space between the femoral head and the acetabulum, which allows for clearer arthroscopy and a greater distance for insertion of the hip arthroscopes from different sides.
You will observe the skeletal retraction process and the entire hip arthroscopy process with a mobile X-ray imaging device called a fluoroscope.
After the preparations and steps of the hip arthroscopy
In the beginning, the doctor makes small incisions in certain places with a width of a quarter to half an inch for each of them, and then inserts a thin, hollow needle at the level of the hip joint under the guidance of the fluoroscope, and injects liquid through it to maintain the expansion of the joint space and make sure that the femoral head is released from its socket by a distance of approximately 1 centimeter. , allowing the passage of surgical instruments and facilitating the operation in the best way.
After that, the surgeon inserts a guide wire through the previously inserted needle, and when he is sure of its correct location, he removes the previous needle, and the incision from which the guide wire was inserted is widened to accommodate wider surgical tools.
The doctor inserts a special cannula through the guide wire until it settles in the place he wants, then he removes the guide wire and inserts the hip arthroscope through the cannula, and then the operation doctors can see the hip joint clearly, which allows the joint to be explored to fix any defect in it.
As for the other incisions, the endoscopes and tools used by the medical team in the hip arthroscopy are inserted, and the location of the overlap can be changed by changing the location of the tools and in whichever incision they were inserted.
Final steps in arthroscopy of the hip
The arthroscopic hip operation usually takes between one and two hours (depending on the number and type of injuries in the patient and whether the operation encountered problems or not).
The doctor may use artificial beads or undissolved sutures to close the wound, according to his choice and discretion.
After the arthroscopic hip surgery, the doctor will prescribe some painkillers and anti-inflammatories, and he may be satisfied with painkillers only. Patients will also be asked to wear a hip belt and even use crutches to walk for the first week or two to reduce the load on the hip joint.
Read more on our website about: The best types of knee braces.
Complications of hip arthroscopy
Complications after arthroscopic hip surgery are almost non-existent, but it is not without some risks and complications after hip joint surgery, including:
- Damage to the adjacent nerves: It results either from a direct injury to the surgical instruments or due to the applied structural traction. Therefore, doctors prefer to apply the least possible traction of the rib and for the shortest possible time. The most affected nerve is the lateral cutaneous nerve of the thigh.
- Adhesions and fluid residue in the hip joint.
- Complications of anesthesia.
- Inflammation at the wound site (very rarely around 1%).
- If there is severe wear and if the patient complains of persistent pain that prevents him from sleeping and has difficulty walking, then hip replacement surgery may be necessary.
Post hip arthroscopy
The patient can go out on the same day or stay in the hospital for the day after the operation, then usually two days after the hip arthroscopy, the effects of the anesthesia go away from the patient.
Hip arthroscopy patients need to rest for two to six weeks, not to do any hard work, and to continue to carry out their daily life functions normally.
Patients need physical therapy for several weeks or months, and after 3 to 6 months, the pain associated with movement will disappear and the patient will return to his normal condition.
Finally, we find that hip arthroscopy is the future of hip surgery. It is a safe, minimally invasive procedure that does not involve many complications, and ensures that athletes can return to their activities as soon as possible and with the least complications.
Sources: