Hip Preservation Center in Houston
We work to provide relief so you can avoid or delay hip replacement surgery.
If a hip issue is causing chronic discomfort or limited mobility, it is essential to get specialized care whenever you can. At Texas Orthopedic Hospital, we have the expertise needed to diagnose and treat these types of conditions in both adolescents and adults.
How are your bones and joints?
Musculoskeletal issues can impact many areas of your life. We offer a bone and joint health risk assessment to help you get started on a path to recovery and wellness.
Musculoskeletal issues can impact many areas of your life. We offer a bone and joint health risk assessment to help you get started on a path to recovery and wellness.
Conditions treated by our hip specialists
Receiving a proper diagnosis is the first step towards effective treatment for hip pain. Our team of orthopedic specialists, musculoskeletal radiologists and physical therapists work together to address acute, chronic and progressive hip conditions, including:
- Avascular necrosis (AVN)
- Femoroacetabular impingement (FAI)
- Hip dislocation
- Hip dysplasia
- Hip tendon tear
- Labral tear
- Snapping hip
- Trochanteric bursitis
Our hip care and preservation treatments
Hip treatment at our hospital regularly begins with stretching or strengthening exercises, as well as guided injections. For more complex situations, our fellowship-trained hip surgeons will address your issue using some of the latest surgical techniques.
Arthroscopic hip surgery
Arthroscopy, a minimally invasive surgical procedure, involves inserting a thin, lighted camera (arthroscope) into a joint to simultaneously check for and repair any damage. Arthroscopic surgery can be used to diagnose and treat a variety of hip conditions, such as FAI or a labral tear.
FAI hip arthroscopy
Femoroacetabular impingement (FAI) is a hip condition where bones abnormally rub against each other during movement, creating discomfort and decreased range of motion.
To address it, we typically use conservative, nonsurgical methods, such as:
- Activity modifications
- Analgesic and steroid injections
- Anti-inflammatory medications
- Physical therapy
- Rest
While nonsurgical management of FAI is prioritized, it, ultimately, isn't likely to change the underlying, abnormal biomechanics of the hip. It can only offer pain relief and improved mobility. If this doesn't adequately address your condition, surgical treatment is available.
Hip arthroscopy labral repair
A hip labral tear involves an injury to the labrum. The labrum is the soft elastic tissue around the hip joint, which helps to hold the ball of your femur in place.
During hip arthroscopy labral repair surgery, we place an arthroscope through a small incision to give us a clear view of the damage. Miniature instruments are then inserted through other incisions to repair the tear.
Depending on the extent and position of the tear, the labrum may be sutured (refixation) or partially removed (debridement). For some, we may perform labrum reconstruction to build a new labrum with a graft.
Hip resurfacing surgery
If you develop advanced arthritis of the hip over time, you may be a suitable candidate for hip resurfacing surgery.
In a traditional total hip replacement, the head of the thighbone and the damaged socket are both removed and replaced with metal, plastic or ceramic components. During hip resurfacing surgery, however, the head of the thighbone is trimmed and capped with a smooth metal covering.
Depending on your condition, you may also benefit from hip revision or reconstructive surgery.
Open hip preservation surgery
Hip replacements have long been the most common treatment for damaged joints, where parts are removed and replaced with a prosthesis. However, if you're young or active, prosthetics are often prone to wear-and-tear, which can lead to additional surgeries. To overcome these limitations, we can use open hip preservation techniques, including a femoral osteotomy, periacetabular osteotomy (PAO) and surgical hip dislocation.
Femoral osteotomy
A femoral osteotomy is a surgical procedure that involves cutting and reshaping the femur, or upper thigh bone. The bone is then realigned so it forms a traditional angle, reducing the amount of force on the hip joint and preventing cartilage damage.
PAO
Our surgeons typically perform periacetabular osteotomy (PAO) procedures to address hip dysplasia. This type of procedure is designed to reduce pain, restore function and prevent further deterioration of the hip joint, thereby increasing its lifespan and postponing a total hip replacement. We accomplish this by cutting and repositioning the acetabulum (hip socket) with screws to improve the fit of the femoral head.
In younger children, we typically use PAO to treat developmental dysplasia of the hip (DDH). This condition can cause problems with the meeting of the ball-shaped top of the thigh bone and the cup-shaped area of the pelvis.
The exact issue can vary between children, but may include:
- Ball and cup not meeting at all
- Ball moving easily out of the cup
- Ball of the thigh becoming loose inside the cup of the pelvis
- Improperly shaped cup
Surgical hip dislocation
Open surgical dislocation is a technique that intentionally dislocates the hip joint during surgery to facilitate easier access to internal tissues. It is designed to help your surgeon clearly view and treat abnormalities that exist deep inside the hip joint.
Stem cell hip injections and regenerative medicine
Certain hip conditions may be treated with stem cell therapy, a type of regenerative medicine derived from your own bone marrow. Regenerative medicine focuses on supporting the body’s natural healing processes, which can become less efficient over time.
During a same-day stem cell therapy procedure, your physician will typically collect stem cells from the bone marrow in your hip. The sample is then processed, to concentrate the stem cells, before being precisely injected into the affected area. If successful, this practice can effectively support long-term tissue repair and healing.