Athletic hip issues is usually a actual ache. Why? Because hip complaints usually trigger ache to radiate to varied components of the physique at totally different occasions. For instance, they’ll trigger ache within the decrease again and buttocks, across the hip joint, within the hip flexor or down the thigh. Symptoms which might be at all times altering make it onerous for docs to pinpoint the issue.

On common, athletes with hip issues see two to a few totally different docs over the course of some years earlier than receiving an correct analysis. Even more difficult, there’s a restricted variety of orthopedic docs with expertise in treating athletic hip complaints. It’s a lot simpler to search out sports activities drugs docs who concentrate on shoulder and knee issues.

Hip arthroscopy is a rising space of orthopedic drugs that’s bringing lasting aid to many sufferers and athletes of all ranges. Dr. Eric Kropf, orthopedic surgeon with Atrium Health Musculoskeletal Institute and adjunct affiliate professor with Wake Forest University School of Medicine, is among the solely suppliers providing hip arthroscopy in Union County, North Carolina. He brings 14 years of medical apply utilizing this outpatient process to deal with sufferers with hip complaints.

Hip Visualization and Repair

The hip is often a really deep, steady joint surrounded by an envelope of muscle and delicate tissue. When infants are born, one of many first issues docs examine is the steadiness of their hips. Hip improvement requires signaling between the ball (femur) and socket. 

“When it comes to hips, there’s a wide range of normal,” explains Kropf. “When the hip is deep, you can start having a mechanical impingement (collision) between the ball and socket. When this collision occurs, it can cause a tear in the labrum, which is the cartilage that covers the outer rim of the hip socket. This may eventually causearthritis.”

Hip arthroscopy includes inserting a scope and a digital camera into the hip joint for visualization. Through minimally invasive “poke-hole” incisions, the surgeon corrects the mechanical impingement that generally happens between the ball and socket and repairs the labral tear.

“Hip arthroscopy is one of the most technically challenging procedures to perform,” Kropf says. “In larger athletes, the muscle and tissue surrounding the hip tend to be thick, making it especially difficult to access the joint. To access the hip joint,, you have to apply traction, open up the joint and work with live X-ray to ensure accurate placement of surgical instruments. Everything has to be very precise.”

Kropf can carry out an entire hip scope and labral tear restore in a roughly 90- minute process. Patients can go house the identical day and start their restoration. From skilled athletes to collegiate athletes and weekend warriors, he sees all kinds of sufferers with hip issues, most of them vary in age from 13 to 55. More energetic sufferers could develop signs at a youthful age.

Atrium Health Musculoskeletal Institute affords high-level experience at each step of the hip scope course of, together with analysis, imaging, surgical administration and postoperative care. Patients with hip complaints profit from Atrium Health Musculoskeletal Institute’s:

• Experienced main care sports activities drugs docs
• Advanced imaging know-how, together with 3 Tesla MRI
• Operating room expertise together with particular X-rays and traction gear
• Physical remedy and rehabilitation specialists who perceive hip issues
• Facilities and groups that carry out high-volume hip arthroscopy

Hip Treatment Journey

Kropf’s most important duties at Atrium Health Musculoskeletal Institute are medical but additionally embody rising the sports activities drugs program and guiding Atrium Health athletic trainers within the outreach market. In the workplace, he sees sufferers who’re referred by way of main care sports activities drugs docs, their main care doctor or different orthopedic surgeons.

“Our goal is to provide the most up-to-date sports medicine practices within Union County, so patients can stay close to home for this type of care,” he says. “Returning to sport or activity requires time and the coordinate efforts of a sports medicine team including surgeon, athletic trainer and physical therapists.  It can be challenging for patients to travel for all elements of care”.

Kropf acquired his medical diploma at Georgetown University and accomplished orthopedic  residency and sports activities drugs fellowship on the University of Pittsburgh.  Kropf’s coaching at  the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center Included superior arthroscopy strategies with leaders in shoulder, knee and hip sports activities drugs.

When he first arrived in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, to begin medical apply at Temple University, he noticed many docs working with ACL and shoulder repairs however didn’t see many treating hip complaints.

“I liked the fact that hip treatment protocols weren’t as well defined yet,” explains Kropf. “I could see there was a serious need. Patients needed someone to see them and guide their procedure and rehab. Hip arthroscopy is still evolving, and we’re still improving the procedure, diagnosis and physical therapy – everything around it.”

Following his coaching, Kropf went to Temple University, the place he labored as an affiliate professor and chief of orthopedics. He served as director of sports activities drugs for Temple University athletics, and as a hip arthroscopy guide forVillanova University, the Philadelphia Flyers and a number of different small faculties within the Philadelphia space.

Exceptional Outcomes

According to Kropf, most sufferers get better very effectively after a hip scope. In reality, research present that 92%-97% of athletes get again to their sport on the similar stage or greater after surgical procedure Many sufferers are capable of begin using a motorbike in rehabilitation a couple of days after the process. Three to 4 months later, most sufferers are again to taking part in soccer, ice hockey or soccer with none ache.

“Hip scopes result in some of the best clinical outcomes and recoveries as well as some of the most satisfied patients,” Kropf says. “Many  athletes didn’t realize how stiff they were until after the procedure. They often feel like a new person, which is very rewarding.”

Hip arthroscopy can also delay or stop arthritis in sure affected person teams. “If we can intervene when an athlete is in their late teens, we can alter the natural history of progression of  hip impingement, improving their long-term health and potentially preventing arthritis,” he explains. 

Learn extra about knowledgeable hip care at Atrium Health Musculoskeletal Institute.