The management of hip pain typically begins with non-invasive treatments. These include use of physical therapy and medicines such as anti-inflammatories. Often hip pain will resolve with these approaches. If hip pain remains unresolved, your physician may recommend an intra-articular injection of medication, which can be used both for pain relief and for diagnostic evaluation.
If the hip pain continues despite these measures, surgical treatment may be necessary. Several surgical options are available. The specific technique recommended will depend upon the underlying hip condition being treated. Potential surgical techniques include the periacetaular osteotomy (PAO), surgical hip dislocation and hip arthroscopy.
The PAO is a technique that allows the surgeon to re-orient the hip joint to provide a more appropriate relationship between the two sides of the hip joint. It is most often used to treat hip dysplasia, though it may be recommended for other hip conditions, such as Legg-Calvé-Perthes disease and hip impingement.
The surgical hip dislocation is a technique that allows the surgeon to see the entire hip joint. It is most often used in the treatment of hip impingement. It can also be used in the treatment of slipped capital femoral epiphysis (SCFE), Legg-Calvé-Perthes disease and avascular necrosis (AVN).
Hip arthroscopy is a minimally invasive surgical technique that allows the surgeon the access the hip joint through small incisions. These small incisions are used to insert a camera and multiple instruments into the hip joint, allowing the surgeon to address the underlying hip condition. This technique is most often used in the treatment of hip impingement.