As the largest ball-and-socket joint in the body, the hip enables you to stand, sit and walk. However, when inflammation or injury strikes, hip pain can inhibit mobility and affect your quality of life.
It’s important to find an orthopedic hip specialist that specializes in diagnosing and treating musculoskeletal problems. This will ensure that you get the best treatment possible for your hip condition.
Nonsurgical Treatment
Fortunately, hip specialists can offer a variety of nonsurgical treatment options to help manage pain. These treatments include medication, physical therapy and lifestyle changes.
Typically, these options are used for patients who have minor hip pain or those who are looking to postpone surgery. These methods are generally less invasive than surgical treatments and carry little risk of side effects or complications.
Despite international guideline recommendations, non-surgical treatment for hip and knee osteoarthritis (OA) remains underutilized in the Netherlands. In this study, we assessed preoperative non-surgical treatment received by 186 patients who were listed for arthroplasty in 2018, and compared these results with utilization in 2013.
Arthritis
Hip arthritis is caused by wear and tear on the cartilage that covers the ball and socket. The cartilage helps the joint to move smoothly and distribute load.
If this condition is severe, a hip specialist may recommend surgery to relieve pain and reduce inflammation in the affected joint. The surgical treatment is selected based on the patient’s age, anatomy and underlying medical conditions.
Non-surgical treatments for arthritis include physical therapy, steroid injections, and antirheumatic medications. They offer temporary relief of pain and inflammation, but they aren’t a cure for arthritis.
Fractures
A hip fracture can cause significant pain and loss of mobility. A hip specialist can diagnose a hip fracture and offer treatment options to relieve pain and restore function and mobility.
Depending on the location of the fracture, treatment may involve rest, ice, or surgery. It is important to see a hip specialist who is board certified in this field.
Getting a proper diagnosis can help to prevent serious complications such as blood clots in the legs or lung or pneumonia. The doctor can also prescribe anti-inflammatory medicine to control pain. In some cases, patients are sent home on a rehabilitation program that helps them regain strength and improve their quality of life.
Osteotomy
Osteotomy is a type of surgery that cuts and changes bone to correct hip problems. It helps reduce pain, wear and unnatural stress on the hip joint and can delay needing a total hip replacement (hip arthroplasty).
A specialist performs this procedure and can help you understand your options. X-rays are used to determine how much correction is needed and a plan is made before surgery.
During the operation, your doctor will make several incisions around the hip joint and cut the bones. Often a wedge of bone is removed, which is then attached to a new area and held in place with plates and screws.
Once the surgery is complete, a cast or stint is applied to stabilize the hip for a period of time and physical therapy begins shortly afterward. Rehabilitative therapy can take up to 6 months.
Resurfacing
Resurfacing is an alternative treatment to hip replacement that may be appropriate for patients who have a severe hip arthritis. This procedure reduces bone loss, decreases the risk of dislocation and improves walking patterns.
In this treatment, the femoral head (ball) is trimmed and capped with a metal cap that moves in a socket. The damaged acetabulum is also replaced with a metal shell.
Hip resurfacing can be done using an anesthetic that puts you to sleep (general anesthesia) or under a regional block, such as an epidural. Surgery lasts about two hours, and most patients spend three or more days in the hospital.
The patient is asleep, but can breathe on their own. The surgical procedure involves removing the damaged thighbone head (ball) and acetabulum from the hip joint, trimming it with a metal cap, and pushing a smooth shell into the socket.
This procedure is a good option for younger people who are healthy and fit, with strong bones around the joint. However, it is not recommended for patients with a history of severe arthritis or osteoporosis.