Hip Arthroscopy & Physical Therapy Benefits

Hip Arthroscopy + Physical Therapy May Improve Femoroacetabular Impingement Syndrome

The hip joint is the largest weight-bearing joint in the human body. It is also referred to as a ball and socket joint and is surrounded by muscles, ligaments, and tendons. The thigh bone or femur and the pelvis join to form the hip joint.

Any injury or disease of the hip will adversely affect the joint's range of motion and ability to bear weight.

The hip joint is made up of the following:

• Bones and joints
• Ligaments of the joint capsule
• Muscles and tendons
• Nerves and blood vessels that supply the bones and muscles of the hip

Healio's published results showed patients with femoroacetabular impingement had statistically and clinically significant short-term improvements in hip pain, function and quality of life when treated with either hip arthroscopy or physical therapy.

What is Hip Arthroscopy?

Arthroscopy, also referred to as keyhole or minimally invasive surgery, is a procedure in which an arthroscope is inserted into a joint to check for any damage and repair it simultaneously.

An arthroscope is a small, fiber-optic instrument consisting of a lens, light source, and video camera. The camera projects an image of the inside of the joint onto a large screen monitor allowing the surgeon to look for any damage, assess the type of injury, and repair the problem.

For more information on the hip arthroscopy, click here.

Healio’s Research

In a systematic database search, researchers identified three randomized controlled trials in which patients with femoroacetabular impingement syndrome received treatment with either hip arthroscopy or physical therapy. Researchers evaluated the international hip outcome tool–33 (iHot–33) score between 6 and 8 months after the interventions, and computed the pooled mean difference in iHOT-33 scores within and between the treatment arms using a random effects model.

Results showed significant increases in iHOT–33 from baseline to follow-up for both hip arthroscopy and physical therapy. Compared with physical therapy, researchers found significantly higher iHOT–33 scores at follow-up among patients who received hip arthroscopy.

“The superiority of hip arthroscopy as compared to physical therapy was statistically proven, but the clinical relevance of these findings remains unclear as the difference between the effects of hip arthroscopy and physical therapy may not be clinically detected by patients,” the authors wrote. “One of the main future research challenges is to identify which patients could best benefit from each of these interventions.”

What We Can Do

With advances in surgical techniques, arthroscopy plays an important role in diagnosis and treatment of hip diseases. Also, patients can anticipate a quicker recovery with less post-operative complications following hip arthroscopy surgery.

To speak with a specialist further, please call 404-255-5595.

Author

Lauren Mueller Marketing