Hip preservation is the practice of maintaining a patient's own hip joint without the need for replacement utilizing innovative techniques including labral and cartilage repair and reconstruction. The procedure is conducted by an orthopedic surgeon. Patients with non-arthritic hip problems and injuries may be candidates for hip preservation.
What is a labral tear? How does it happen?
The hip labrum is a cartilage ring that sits on the outside rim of the socket of the hip joint. The labrum acts like a suction cup to hold the ball of the thighbone securely within the hip socket.
People who participate in ice hockey, soccer, football, golfing and ballet that require twisting at the hip socket are at higher risk of developing a hip labral tear. Structural abnormalities of the hip also can lead to a hip labral tear.
Why consider hip preservation? Are there alternatives?
Hip preservation techniques can also be done utilizing arthroscopy, making these procedures minimally invasive. Through the small poke holes in the skin, the labrum and cartilage can be fixed or reconstructed and the bone can be contoured, addressing the structural abnormalities. The alternative to this procedure is a surgical dislocation of the hip, which requires an open procedure with larger incisions.
Back to Beaumont Orthopedics