Hip Preservation

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Hip preservation is a treatment for hip problems that aims to protect the natural joint. Early detection and treatment are key to helping preserve the hip joint.

With the unique level of hip preservation services that UT Southwestern offers, we’re able to evaluate the causes of hip injuries and conditions and offer innovative treatments. Hip preservation may delay, and in some cases prevent, hip problems from becoming more serious, such as the need for hip replacement surgery in the future.

UT Southwestern Medical Center’s orthopedic and sports medicine hip preservation specialists offer care that can reduce pain and restore movement resulting from hip impingement, labral tears, and other orthopedic conditions. Our patients range from teens to adults to seniors – including elite athletes.

What Is Hip Preservation?

Hip preservation is a group of nonsurgical and surgical treatments designed to maintain the structure and function of the hip joint. The goal is to correct joint problems before arthritis becomes advanced, especially in younger or active patients.

UT Southwestern services include hip preservation surgery and nonsurgical options. The level of care that we offer helps maintain the structure and function of the hip joint before injuries and conditions become more advanced.

Hip preservation treatment may be needed if someone is experiencing hip pain that lasts for a few weeks or longer. We see patients who simply want to walk without severe pain, as well as those who want to continue competing in sports such as basketball, hockey, football, soccer, gymnastics, dancing, and yoga.

Why Choose UT Southwestern for Hip Preservation?

Hip x-ray — This X-ray shows CAM and pincer-type impingement in both hips, with the changes more pronounced on the right side than the left.

As nationally recognized experts in orthopedics and sports medicine, UT Southwestern offers comprehensive hip care focused on long-term joint health. We offer effective, innovative hip preservation care that may only be available in North Texas from our hip preservation specialists.

For example, using advanced 3D scans, we personalize hip preservation treatment plans. This helps us determine if nonsurgical or surgical care is needed. The technology can also help our board-certified surgeons tailor highly precise, personalized approaches to hip arthroscopy for highly effective results and reduced recovery times.

In addition, patients choosing UT Southwestern Orthopedics and Sports Medicine benefit from:

Access to leading-edge nonsurgical and surgical treatments
Fellowship-trained orthopedic and sports medicine specialists with advanced expertise in treating the full spectrum of hip conditions, including advances in hip preservation services
Experience serving as team doctors for professional sports teams and elite athletes, with the advanced skills needed to maximize patient care and recovery
Care within a leading academic medical center recognized for orthopedic expertise and innovation

What Are the Benefits of Hip Preservation?

Hip preservation services UT Southwestern offers can help with:

Relief from hip pain
Improved hip motion and function
Protection of healthy cartilage and bone
Slowing or preventing arthritis progression
Delaying or avoiding total hip replacement
Extending the length of time high school, college, and elite athletes can compete in a sport

What Conditions Are Treated Through UT Southwestern’s Hip Preservation Services?

Hip preservation provides help for conditions that affect hip structure, alignment, or cartilage. This includes:

Hip impingement (femoroacetabular impingement), abnormal hip bone shape that causes joint friction
Hip labral tears, damage to the tissue that lines the hip socket
Hip dysplasia, where the femur doesn’t fit properly with the pelvis
Early avascular necrosis, bone damage due to decreased blood supply that has not yet led to collapse of the hip joint
Hip cartilage damage, wear or injury to the joint surface
Muscle and tendon tears around the hip, partial or complete tears of muscles and tendons that connect muscles to the hip, often causing pain or weakness
Hip instability, with symptoms including pain or clicking of the hip, or a feeling that it may give way

What Types of Hip Preservation Care Does UT Southwestern Offer?

We first assess whether the pain is caused by the joint itself, the surrounding tissue, or a patient’s mechanics. The cause determines the appropriate treatment.

We offer nonsurgical care, such as:

Activity modification
Injections
Physical therapy

When needed, our specialists can perform a range of hip preservation surgical procedures, including:

Hip arthroscopy, a minimally invasive procedure that uses small incisions and a camera to repair labral tears, remove damaged cartilage, or reshape the bone causing impingement
Osteotomy surgery, which repositions the hip socket or thigh bone to improve joint alignment and reduce abnormal stress, often used for hip dysplasia
Cartilage repair procedures, techniques to smooth, repair, and stimulate healing of damaged cartilage to improve joint function and reduce pain
Core decompression, a procedure used in early-stage avascular necrosis to relieve pressure in the bone and improve blood flow to the femoral head
Tendon repair procedures, surgical repair of torn hip tendons to restore strength, stability, and movement around the joint

What Is the Recovery After Receiving Hip Preservation Care?

Recovery varies by treatment type and a patient’s hip injury or condition. Regaining full motion can last a few weeks to months.

In general, patients can expect:

Temporary limits on activity
Physical therapy to restore strength and motion
Gradual return to daily activities and sports
Follow-up visits to monitor healing

What Support Services for Hip Preservation Does UT Southwestern Offer?

Physical therapist stretching a patient's hip

Our hip preservation services are comprehensive. This includes support services as part of a treatment plan that may include:

Physical therapy and rehabilitation programs
Pain management services
Education to support recovery and long-term joint health

What Clinical Trials Are Available for Hip Preservation?

UT Southwestern participates in clinical research focused on improving hip preservation techniques and outcomes. These studies evaluate new techniques, devices, or recovery approaches. Clinical trials may be available for eligible patients, depending on diagnosis and treatment plan.

For example, UT Southwestern was involved in a study that compares nonopioid pain relief to traditional opioid options. Early results showed no difference between the two, which makes nonopioid options a better choice for most patientsbecause they provide similar pain control with a lower risk of addiction and other serious side effects.

Ask our doctors about current studies or search for clinical trials.

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