Back to procedures
The hip joint is a ball and socket joint. The ball which is the top of the thigh bone (femur), articulates with the socket (acetabulum) of the pelvic bone. A procedure called a surgical hip dislocation may be performed if the ball has a small lesion commonly caused by trauma or avascular necrosis (AVN or osteonecrosis). The procedure allows full access to the hip for transplantation of bone and cartilage from an organ donor. Additionally, it allows for labral repair and reshaping of impingement lesions. If the ball lesion is too large or if the cartilage damage is too widespread, a hip replacement might be recommended instead.
Early stages of avascular necrosis can be treated by core decompression surgery, which reduces pressure, promotes blood flow and encourages healing of the bone. Core decompression is indicated in the early stages of avascular necrosis, when the surface of the head is still smooth and round. It is done to prevent or postpone hip replacement surgery.
Core decompression is performed under spinal or general anesthesia. The patient is placed on their back and live X-ray imaging or fluoroscopy is used to guide the surgeon during the procedure.
A small incision is made on the hip and a precisely placed drill is placed into the lesion. The necrotic bone is then removed. This reduces the elevated pressure immediately and creates space for the new blood vessels to grow and nourish the existing bone. Bone graft is commonly used to enhance the healing response. The incision is then closed with sutures.
If a surgical hip dislocation is needed, the surgeon will make an incision to access the hip joint. A small portion of the femur (thigh bone) will be cut (osteotomy) in order to dislocate the ball from the socket so that all the parts of the hip joint can be visualized. The dislocation allows transplantation of donor bone and cartilage, in addition to repair of the labrum tears and reshaping of the bony abnormalities of the ball and/or socket. The procedure requires a 1 or 2 night hospital stay. It is not recommended in patients with significant hip degeneration or older patients.
After the operation, crutches are to be used for 6 to 12 weeks to prevent weight bearing at the hip joint until the femur bone heals completely. Regular activities may be resumed approximately 3 months after the surgery.
After the operation, crutches are to be used for 6 to 12 weeks to prevent weight bearing at the hip joint until the femur bone heals completely. Regular activities may be resumed approximately 3 months after the surgery.
As with all surgeries, core decompression may be associated with certain complications such as:
If you've ever been told that you need hip treatment, get a second opinion and explore an option that works best for you.
Let's chat
