Hip Preservation

Alejandro Verdugo, MD, is the ONLY surgeon in Lubbock, Texas and surrounding areas who performs hip preservation. He is fellowship trained in hip preservation, which means he has achieved the highest level of training in this technique.

People who are candidates for hip preservation are young, typically in their 20s or 30s or sometimes younger, with pain in their hip and/or groin area. The problem may be caused by an injury or a mechanical mismatch that exists at birth. If left untreated, there is an increased risk for severe hip arthritis and hip replacement.

What Is Hip Preservation?

Hip preservation is a minimally invasive surgical procedure that can be done to save the hip so it does not need to be replaced later in life. Dr. Verdugo can improve the way your hip joint moves while preserving the natural bones and soft tissues you were born with. Hip resurfacing and arthroscopy are examples of hip preservation, because the surgeon simply modifies your joint to make it work better instead of replacing it.

What Are the Symptoms of Hip Problems?

Some people are born with a mechanical mismatch in their hip joint. Or, you may have had an accident or injury that damaged your hip.

The hip is a ball-and-socket type of joint. Normally, the hip joint can move easily, but if the ball is not completely smooth and round, it cannot move properly inside the socket. A classic symptom is clicking or catching in your hip joint along with groin pain. You may first notice the pain on only one side, but the problem usually affects both hips. When the condition worsens, you may have difficulty moving your leg and walking can become painful.

Am I a Candidate for Hip Preservation?

If you have pain in your hip but are too young for a degenerative condition like arthritis, you may be a candidate for hip preservation. Hip preservation is an effective treatment option for any of these conditions:

  • Femoroacetabular Impingement (FAI)
  • Labral Tear
  • Snapping Hip
  • Cartilage Defects/Flaps
  • Unexplained Hip Pain
  • Hip Dysplasia
  • Trochanteric Bursitis
  • Inflammation of the Hip Lining (Synovitis)
  • IT Band Bursitis
  • Pigmented Villonodular Synovitis (PVNS)

Benefits of Hip Preservation

Minimally invasive procedures like hip preservation are the preferred way to treat joint problems, especially if you want to resume an active lifestyle. When compared to traditional open surgery, hip preservation offers patients the following benefits:

  • Faster recovery
  • Less hip pain
  • Less scarring and bleeding
  • Smaller incisions
  • Reduced risk of complications

Alejandro Verdugo, MD, has trained with expert orthopedic surgeons to perfect this technique and offer it his patients. For more information about hip preservation in Lubbock, Texas or to schedule an evaluation, call (806) 744-7223 or request an appointment online.

Hip Preservation