Bernese Periacetabular Osteotomy, also called Ganz Osteotomy is a challenging orthopaedic procedure performed in cases of hip dysplasia which is one of the most common hip disorders.

What is hip dysplasia and how is Bernese Periacetabular Osteotomy performed to treat this disorder? With the inputs from the top hip replacement surgeon in Mumbai, Dr Niraj Vora we have answered the questions in this blog. Read on to know:

What is Hip Dysplasia?

Hip Dysplasia is a hip disorder where the hip socket doesn’t adequately fit together with the ball portion of the upper thigh bone. As the socket doesn’t fully cover the ball, the misplacement can damage the cartilage over time due to rubbing which results in pain and discomfort. In rare cases, the constant rubbing may even cause joint dislocation.

Babies are born with this condition and it can get severe as they age demanding medical intervention as soon as possible. “On average 1 in 1000 babies are born with this condition. It can happen to both the hip joints but the left hip joint is found to be most commonly affected. The risk of hip dysplasia is more among the girls and the firstborn”, says specialist hip replacement surgeon in Mumbai Dr Niraj Vora.

Hip Dysplasia – Symptoms & Treatment:

The pain and discomfort experienced by the baby may result in mobility issues, pelvic tilt, length differences in legs, or limping. Impingent tests and imaging studies are performed to identify the condition.

Babies diagnosed with hip dysplasia early are treated with soft brace and babies older than 6 months are suggested full body cast by hip specialists. Older children and adults will need surgical intervention to treat the hip dysplasia condition. While mild cases are treated with orthoscopic surgery that needs minor cuts moderate to severe cases will need Bernese Periacetabular Osteotomy. Only in very rare cases of hip dysplasia where the correction surgery is not optimal, hip replacement surgery is considered.

Bernese Periacetabular Osteotomy for Hip Dysplasia:

Periacetabular Osteotomy is a surgical procedure that is performed to reposition or reorient the acetabulum to ensure stability at the hip joint. The hip surgeon first diagnoses the dysplasia using imaging studies (MRI, CT, & X-ray) to understand the exact nature of the acetabular displacement and plan the surgical treatment.

The patient under anaesthesia is placed on the table with specialised surgical drapes for stability. The surgeon then makes an incision, muscles are separated to expose the pelvis. Specialized equipment called osteotomes is used to make the pelvic bone cuts, this allows the surgeon to detach the pelvis socket and reposition it accurately using the x-ray guidance. The pelvis socket is fixed and placed using screws for natural healing. Depending on the severity of the dysplasia the surgeon may further fix the socket or femoral head to ensure right hip function too. Post the surgery the patients are admitted to the hospital for learning pain control and movement exercises to enable faster recovery and mobility restoration. Bone healing needs 6 weeks after which full weight bearing is possible. Physiotherapy is suggested to accelerate movement restoration and build muscle strength in the process. If you are looking for more information on this procedure, you can contact hip replacement specialist Dr Niraj Vora here @Call: +91-22-6686 8600