Yayyy, had my post op today and finally got the sutures out.  Still not allowed to swim for another week which is a bummer.

Mr R went over all my pictures with me and showed me why he had to do what he did, looks a mess compared to the last time. Can plainly see the CAM lesion, herniation pits and calcification.  Thankfully my cartilage is great and I should have a full recovery, however he is unsure of how the labral resection will affect the hip in the long term as there is still debate as to its proper function.

Got the OK to start cycling on a stationary bike with high seat (to minimise flexion) and have made my first physio appointment for next Tuesday.  I am allowed to start running when I can do a single leg squat, hopefully by January.

No flexion with abduction for a further four weeks due to the capsulotomy, I can handle that…dunno bout ‘H’ though

1 =  First view of the joint and inflammation.

4 & 5 =  Calcified labrum.

6 =  Image showing what is left of the anterior labrum and calcification.

7 =  Knife cutting labrum from acetabulum to attempt repair.

8 =  After anterior labrum removal (fell to bits upon detatchment).

10 =  View across femoral neck showing no offset, it should have a dip in it.  (Acetabulum on the left)

11 =  Herniation pits and chondral damage to femoral head.  (Acetabulum on the right)

12-14 = Removal of CAM/Ganz lesion with motorised burr.  (Acetabulum on the right)

15 =  Finished CAM removal.  (Acetabulum on the right)

These are the images from my first scope two years ago.  As you can see there has been a lot of degeneration since then.

Operation Report

Mr John Rietveld @ St Georges Hospital, Christchurch, New Zealand.

Left Hip arthroscopy and debridement of labral rim which had some calcification within it, unfortuantely there was no repairable labrum here and resection of significant prominent head/neck junction.

The patient was anaesthetised and the left hip was prepped and draped in the usual manner to give a sterile field.  The image intensifier was used and a 2 portal arthroscopy was undertaken.  The findings showed that the labrum anterior was pretty much redundant and it was actually really just part of the acetabulum where the ossification within it, there was a small area of calcification in the anterior labrum and the labrum adjacent to this was lifted.  I tried to take this down with the knife but unfortunately there was only a couple of millimetres thick and with the calcification it just fell apart, therefore I resected this with the wand.  I then inspected the head and found that there was a significant area of chondral damage on the rim, then marked this area where there was a lack of head/neck offset with the wand and then used the burr to resect and recreate a head/neck offset.  Following this I ran the hip through a full range of motion both with the image intensifier and direct visualisation and found that it was no longer impinging.  I thoroughly washed out the joint, placed some Nylon sutures into the portals followed by dressing.

Post op instructions:

Pain relief as charted, neurovascular obs, see in clinic at 2 weeks for removal of sutures and wound check, patient may mobilise full weight bearing.

After seeing all this do I think I’ve done the right thing??  ABSOLUTELY!!!  I (and my surgeon) feel I have made the right decision and because I got rid of the offending anatomy and the rest of my joint is good, I now shouldn’t need an early hip replacement.

I am able to sleep on my operated side for longer periods now and can get up the stairs without the sharp groin pain finally.  I can put my shoes on and tie them, though this still remains a little difficult and have managed to shave my legs!

I am off to Auckland tomorrow to visit Mum and her partner for a few days.  I will be taking my crutches as I am still needing them for longer walks and if I have any sort of flare up I need to be able to get around.  At least if I don’t need them they fit in my suitcase

Oh, and drove for the first time today!

FEELING GREAT!