Before surgery
Surgery day
What happens, step by step, from the arrival call to going home.
Step 1: Arrive in the morning
- Patients come to the hospital in the morning, have surgery, and go home the same day (outpatient surgery).
- Your arrival time comes by phone the day before. No call by 3 p.m.? Call (713) 794-3457.
Step 2: Sign the consent
- A nurse will have you sign the operative permit. It will read "Hip Arthroscopy: Labral Repair, Osteoplasty." Additional procedures may be included depending on what is found in or around the hip.
Step 3: Meet the anesthesia team
- The surgery is performed under general anesthesia.
- You will meet the anesthesia team at your pre-op appointment and again on the day of surgery.
Step 4: Surgery
- The ball and socket are gently separated by about 1 cm using traction on the foot, which makes room for a small camera (the arthroscope).
- Two, three or sometimes four small incisions are made on the side of the hip, each about 5 to 10 mm long.
- Surgery usually takes about 40 to 60 minutes.
- At the end, medication may be injected into the hip to reduce pain. Incisions are closed with buried sutures, so no stitches need to be removed.
Step 5: Home the same day
- Ice starts right away.
- You will walk with crutches, 20 lb weight bearing, and wear the brace when walking and sitting.
- An overnight stay is available in certain situations.
Where to go
Texas Orthopedic Hospital
7401 Main Street, Houston, TX 77030