Hip osteotomy is an operation in which the thigh bone or the pelvis is cut, repositioned and fixed to improve the position of the joint and how load passes through it. It may be considered for some patients, often younger ones, to protect the joint and slow its wear instead of replacing it.
Note: This is general information. The operation suits specific cases, and the surgeon decides whether it is appropriate after examination and imaging.
When This Operation May Be Considered
It may be considered in selected cases, including:
- Hip pain with a problem in the shape or position of the joint
- A shallow socket that does not cover the femoral head well
- A deformity of the femur that changes how load is shared
- A joint that has not yet reached severe damage
- Non-surgical treatment that has not been enough
What the Operation Addresses
The operation addresses a mechanical imbalance in the joint caused by:
- Hip development problems from childhood, such as developmental hip dislocation and its after-effects
- Deformities in the angle of the femur
- Effects of earlier hip injuries or diseases
- Uneven pressure on part of the cartilage that speeds up wear
Diagnosis
Assessment includes examining movement, strength and walking, X-rays from different angles, and sometimes an MRI or CT scan to study the shape of the bone and cartilage in detail.
Whether the operation suits you can only be known after an in-person examination.
Treatment options
Non-surgical treatment
In some cases non-surgical options help ease symptoms, although they do not change the shape of the bone.
- Activity changes and avoiding painful movements
- Physiotherapy and strengthening of hip and pelvic muscles
- Weight management when relevant
- Treatments under medical supervision to ease pain
Surgical treatment
In the operation the surgeon cuts the bone precisely at a chosen point, changes its direction and holds it with fixation until it heals. The aim is to improve coverage of the femoral head or how load is spread across the joint.
When the right case is chosen the operation may preserve the patient's own joint for longer, but results vary and some patients may later need hip replacement.
Recovery and rehabilitation
Recovery time varies from person to person and is set by the surgeon after assessment. The bone needs time to heal, and the surgeon decides when weight-bearing is allowed.
- Protecting the hip and limiting load on it as the surgeon directs
- Keeping the joint moving with gentle exercises
- X-ray follow-up to monitor bone healing
- Gradual muscle strengthening once allowed
- A gradual return to activities
- Following a hip rehabilitation program
When to see the doctor
See an orthopedic surgeon if you have:
- Ongoing or repeated hip or groin pain
- A feeling of instability or clicking in the hip
- A limp or a change in the way you walk
- A history of a hip problem since childhood