Peri-acetabular osteotomy (PAO)

Indication

In the case of a congenital hip defect or hip dysplasia, a Peri-Acetabular Osteotomy (PAO) may be indicated. This surgery proceeds as follows.

How?

Before surgery, the anesthesiologist places an epidural catheter (infusion with pain pump) in your back. After surgery, you can operate the pain pump yourself using a push button. This epidural pain pump remains in situ for one to two days.

Prof. Dr. Corten makes a frontal incision. He performs the technique so that the incision falls into the groin crease. The surgery is also completely muscle-sparing. After the incision is made, the specialist works toward the capsule and bone without damaging the muscles. He exposes the joint capsule and without opening it, the doctor goes to the ischium (part of the pelvis), just below the hip socket.

Various bone pieces of the pelvis are loosened.

The hip socket is now completely free and can be placed in the correct position. The surgeon checks under X-ray whether the new position is optimal. He then fixes the socket with 2 to 3 screws. After the fixation the surgeon will check if the correction of the socket was done correctly. Then the wound is closed.

Blood loss may occur during peri-acetabular osteotomy (PAO), mainly because the bone may bleed. Therefore, during the surgery, a cell-saver is used. This is a device that collects the patient’s blood and then returns it to him/her.

Prof. Dr. Corten’s muscle-sparing technique provides significant benefits: less blood loss, smaller scar thanks to the groin incision, shorter hospitalization allowing a quick return to normal activities.

Would you like more information? Feel free to make an appointment with our specialists.