Minimally Invasive Hip Surgery

Hip pain can affect everyone, from adults to children. Sports injuries and arthritis are the most common causes of hip pain and can have a significant impact on your mobility and quality of life.

If you’re experiencing hip pain, the team of joint experts at Penn State Health is here to help. We offer comprehensive diagnostics and treatment options, as well as minimally invasive surgical options, like hip arthroscopy. Minimally invasive procedures are performed through smaller incisions, for quicker recovery time and less pain.

Symptoms, Diagnosis and Outlook

Symptoms of a hip condition include:

• Inflammation
• Joint “lock”
• Limited mobility
• Pain, especially with motion
• Popping
• Swelling

Our orthopaedics team will order appropriate studies,that may include x-rays and an MRI, to determine the source of your hip pain. These test results will help the team create your treatment plan, which can include anti-inflammatory medications, physical therapy, medication, splints or braces.

If you’ve experienced long-term hip pain that no longer responds to traditional treatment options, your orthopaedic surgeon might suggest hip arthroscopy. This minimally invasive hip surgery uses an arthroscope – a tiny lens with a camera attached - inserted into a small incision to give your surgeon a comprehensive look inside your hip. The arthroscope helps your surgeon accurately diagnose the source of your pain. In some cases, specialized tools used with the arthroscope can be used to make repairs, such as removing bone fragments, scar tissue, inflamed joint lining or torn cartilage.

Most hip arthroscopy patients experience improved mobility and less pain within a few weeks after surgery. Full recovery time is dependent on the degree of injury and the extent of the surgery. Crutches and physical therapy will help you regain strength and stability

Why Choose Penn State Health for Care

Top-Ranked by U.S. News & World Report

Penn State Health includes the Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, ranked as one of the best orthopedic providers in the country by U.S. News & World Report. This honor was earned because our doctors consistently deliver exceptional patient care and outcomes through their commitment to advanced treatments, translational research and provider training.

Coordinated, Specialized Care Through a Dedicated Institute

Our orthopaedic specialists work together through our dedicated Penn State Bone and Joint Institute. There, they focus on providing you with multidisciplinary, tailored care and state-of-the-art treatments and technologies. This produces the highest-quality patient outcomes. All physicians at the institute are fellowship-trained and subspecialize in additional niche areas of orthopaedics, including arthritis care and joint arthroplasty (joint replacement surgery).

Designated as a Blue Distinction® Center

Penn State Bone and Joint Institute is a Blue Distinction Center for Knee and Hip Replacement. This superior designation from BlueCross BlueShield is only given to health care facilities and providers that stand out for their expertise in delivering specialty knee and hip replacement care. Our surgeons specialize in a range of pain-relieving procedures, including partial knee replacement, total joint arthroplasty, joint preservation surgery and complex revision surgery. They perform more than 1,000 joint replacement procedures every year.

Confidence in Treatment Through Education

We developed a special joint replacement education website just for patients undergoing joint arthroplasty. The website takes you step by step through the joint replacement process. From things to consider before choosing surgery to recovery after surgery, you’ll find the information you need to help you feel confident in your decision to undergo joint replacement.

Advancing Orthopaedic Medicine Through Research

The doctors and researchers in our Center for Orthopaedic Research and Translational Science at the Milton S. Hershey Medical Center are committed to advancing our field through scientific discovery and education. As the only academic medical center in central Pennsylvania, Hershey Medical Center is a national leader in research, in partnership with Penn State College of Medicine, and on the leading edge of new treatment options, including clinical trials.