Periacetabular Osteotomy (PAO)
Relieve arthritis pain and keep hip replacement at bay
Overview
Periacetabular osteotomy (PAO) is a surgery for congenital (a condition you have from birth) hip dysplasia. It’s a major surgery but, after you recover, you can be active without pain and discomfort from an improperly positioned hip joint. By having your hip repaired, you also can slow down the progression of arthritis and avoid hip replacement longer.
Life Without Pain
With hip dysplasia, your hip joint isn’t formed the way it should be – a condition you’ve had since birth. The bottom-line is that you want to be able to live and be active without pain.
Your doctor will examine you and review images of your hip to make sure periacetabular osteotomy is the right solution to your hip problem. Your doctor will also talk to you about the help you need during your recovery from surgery and schedule your surgery for a time that’s convenient for you.
The Surgery
Shortly before your surgery, you will have general anesthesia to make sure you’re asleep during the operation. In the operating room, your surgeon will make a 4- to 5-inch incision toward the front of your hip, on the upper part of your thigh. Other incisions are made on under your hip socket, above the hip socket and behind the hip socket.
Your surgeon will then rotate your hip socket into the best position and fix it in place with screws. The operation takes one to two hours, and you can expect to be in the hospital for two to four days after the operation.
A day or two after surgery, a therapist will explain how to protect your hip until it’s fully recovered. The therapist will help you learn to use crutches, stand, walk and do exercises to strengthen your hip.
What to Expect
Life Without Pain
With hip dysplasia, your hip joint isn’t formed the way it should be – a condition you’ve had since birth. The bottom-line is that you want to be able to live and be active without pain.
Your doctor will examine you and review images of your hip to make sure periacetabular osteotomy is the right solution to your hip problem. Your doctor will also talk to you about the help you need during your recovery from surgery and schedule your surgery for a time that’s convenient for you.
The Surgery
Shortly before your surgery, you will have general anesthesia to make sure you’re asleep during the operation. In the operating room, your surgeon will make a 4- to 5-inch incision toward the front of your hip, on the upper part of your thigh. Other incisions are made on under your hip socket, above the hip socket and behind the hip socket.
Your surgeon will then rotate your hip socket into the best position and fix it in place with screws. The operation takes one to two hours, and you can expect to be in the hospital for two to four days after the operation.
A day or two after surgery, a therapist will explain how to protect your hip until it’s fully recovered. The therapist will help you learn to use crutches, stand, walk and do exercises to strengthen your hip.
Your doctor will tell you which tests you need to prepare for surgery – blood tests, possibly a chest X-ray – and advise you about when to stop eating, drinking and taking medications right before surgery.
Preparing For Periacetabular Osteotomy (PAO)
Your doctor will tell you which tests you need to prepare for surgery – blood tests, possibly a chest X-ray – and advise you about when to stop eating, drinking and taking medications right before surgery.
Recovering from Periacetabular Osteotomy
Periacetabular osteotomy is a major surgery, and it takes time to get back to normal.
You won’t be able to bear any weight on your hip for six to eight weeks after surgery and you won’t be able to stand or walk without using crutches. You may also need physical therapy to help you recover.
Usually you will be back to walking without crutches about eight weeks after surgery. Around that time, your pain will also better, and will most likely be gone within four months after the operation.
After Your Procedure
Recovering from Periacetabular Osteotomy
Periacetabular osteotomy is a major surgery, and it takes time to get back to normal.
You won’t be able to bear any weight on your hip for six to eight weeks after surgery and you won’t be able to stand or walk without using crutches. You may also need physical therapy to help you recover.
Usually you will be back to walking without crutches about eight weeks after surgery. Around that time, your pain will also better, and will most likely be gone within four months after the operation.
- How much pain will I be in after surgery?
- With the opioid crisis, will you limit how long I can be on pain-relieving medication?
- Will I be able to do whatever I want after I recover?
- What kind of help do I need to have around the house after surgery if I can’t put weight on my hip for two months?
- Will the screws in my hip make metal detectors go off?
Questions to Ask Your Provider
- How much pain will I be in after surgery?
- With the opioid crisis, will you limit how long I can be on pain-relieving medication?
- Will I be able to do whatever I want after I recover?
- What kind of help do I need to have around the house after surgery if I can’t put weight on my hip for two months?
- Will the screws in my hip make metal detectors go off?
