Lady Gaga raises the profile of hip arthroscopy
Surgical Innovations Clinical Advisory Board member and Harrogate hip surgeon Mr Jon Conroy has today commented on how Lady Gaga’s imminent surgery will help raise the worldwide profile of pioneering minimally invasive hip surgery.
It is believed the pop sensation has had a hip problem for a while, which last week was diagnosed as a labral tear; forcing her to pull out of the remaining 25 dates of her US and Canada tour.
Hip arthroscopy is currently performed by a limited number of orthopedic surgeons due to the technical complexities surgeons face within the hip joint.
With increased clinical training and surgical exposure the number of procedures is expected to grow year-on-year, but Mr Conroy, who specialises in hip arthroscopy, believes Lady Gaga’s high profile status will help promote the technique as a practical option for both patients and surgeons, ensuring it becomes the future hip surgery of choice.
Mr Conroy explains: "The labrum is a cartilage structure attached to the rim of the hip socket. It creates a seal around the ball of the hip and often tears will occur in athletes or dancers who have repetitive injuries to the hip, as in the case of Lady Gaga. The tear won't heal itself thus surgery is necessary to repair the labrum with stitches. Additionally hip arthroscopy offers opportunities to preserve the hip and potentially, in the future, obviate the need for hip replacements.”
Mr Conroy, along with other leading UK orthopaedic surgeons, has been working with SI’s design team to develop a pioneering range of arthroscopic products and instrumentation that will improve safety, visualisation and access into the hip joint. He added: “The market of hip arthroscopy is rising every year and this is expected to continue through technological advancements in orthopaedic instrumentation increased patient demand and as more surgeons adopt hip arthroscopy practices. It is one of the most rapidly growing areas in orthopaedic surgery.”
21.02.2013
