Hip arthroscopy: what it is and when can be used

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In some people a widespread pain to hips may happen and sometimes is the signal of diseases, such as pubalgia, sciatica or hip arthrosis.

Only an orthopaedic specialized examination can determine the disease nature and necessary therapy.

In case of arthrosis, surgery may also be necessary.

The hip arthrosis is a condition that brings to a degeneration of coxofemoral joint cartilage, the point in which the femur is articulated with acetabulum, hip cavity intended to accomodate the femoral head.

This degenerative process involves pain and difficulty in movements with disabling consequences.

The hip arthroscopy is a minimally invasive surgery procedure, as performed with latest technologies acting within the joints without affecting the same.

However, not all patients are good candidates for this preventive intervention.

The arthrosis, indeed, cannot be at an advanced stage and, often, it is not easy to identify this kind of disease in a initial phase, because usually confused with other diseases.

The operation itself is quick and minimally invasive, but is followed by a rehabilitation phase that requires some months, during which the patient will learn the exercises for joint and muscle recovery, to carry out together with the physiotherapist and autonomously at home.

Clinica San Francesco in the Newsweek World’s Best Hospitals 2021 ranking

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Another important outcome for the Clinica San Francesco.

Even for 2021, the Clinic, GHC (Garofalo Healthcare Group) centre of excellence and international reference point for robotic orthopaedic surgery, re-entered in the ranking of 2000 best hospitals in the world published by the famous American magazine “Newsweek”, rising to the 45th place – gaining six positions compared to the previous year – among the best Italian health facilities, out of a total of 108.

The ranking, realized by the American company ‘Statista’, examines the facilities from 25 countries, including, besides Italy, also United States, Germany and Canada. The research was based on three kind of sources: 1) opinion of experts – more than 74,000 among physicians, hospital directors and healthcare professionals participated in an international online survey -; 2) outcomes of patient’s satisfaction surveys and 3) KPI (Key Performance Indicators), the indicators that measure the hospital performances. The Clinic – first in Europe (and outside the USA) to introduce the robotic surgery for partial knee replacement and total hip replacement, respectively in 2011 and 2012, and first in Italy for total knee replacement, in 2017, thanks to the staff of Dr Piergiuseppe Perazzini, director of Orthopaedics and Traumatology Functional Unit – stood out for innovative approach in patient care and implementation of latest generation technologies.

Even in this side the Clinic was among the first centres in Europe to apply the Mako robot upgrade 4.0, becoming furthermore an European reference point for robotic hand and elbow surgery with innovative operations of metacarpal trapezius prosthesis, necessary in case of advanced arthrosis or rizarthrosis, performed by the Hand and Elbow Surgery staff. The Clinica San Francesco carries out an intense training activity for surgeons from all over Europe and since 2013 is European Centre for Robotic Orthopaedics (CORE – Centro di Ortopedia Robotica Europeo), since 2019 reference centre of Veneto Region for robotic orthopaedic surgery, and since 2021 reference centre for the Italian Hand Surgery Society (SICM – Società Italiana di Chirurgia della Mano).

«This is a great recognition for a smal facility as the Clinica San Francesco that is in a better position than other Italian hospitals, considered of excellence, and has managed to improve in just one year, despite the difficulties linked to the pandemic. The ranking – Dr Perazzini comments – expresses not only parameters communicated by the facility, but above all a patient’s approval rating, whose evaluation is based not only on successful outcome of operation, but considers also the favourable environment, care received by nursing staff and shows how quality and innovation are the objectives to pursue».

See the ranking

HEART PREVENTION: WHAT IT MEANS AND WHEN TO START

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Preventing heart disease means implementing all the necessary measures to reduce as much as possible the cardiovascular diseases incidence, especially the atherosclerotic ones.

The prevention is essential: these diseases, in particular the heart attack and stroke, indeed, often arise suddenly. Furthermore, they are not only high mortality pathologies, but also cause of high disability. Then, intervening in time means to lengthen the life of patient as well as to bring a marked improvement to its quality.

The cardiology specialist will assess the patient’s overall cardiovascular risk and will decide a customized therapeutic plan.

But what are the risk factors that predispose the patient to these diseases?

These factors are divided between modifiable conditions, on which it is possible to intervene, as smoke, arterial hypertension, diabetes, hypercholesterolemia, sedentariness, and not modifiable factors, as race, age, gender and possible genetic predisposition.

In some patients several risk factors may be present at the same time, greatly increasing the possibility of one of these diseases.

If on the one hand it is essential to undergo regular controls at a specialist, who will also prescribe the necessary examinations, it is even changing the lifestyle.

For a good cardiovascular health, indeed, it is essential to often do sports, even of slight intensity, and follow a proper diet, low in animal saturated fats and simple carbohydrates, rich instead of fish, fiber and complex carbohydrates. Smoking should be abolutely avoided and alcohol consumption should be limited.

The European guidelines on cardiovascular prevention, finally, advise men to undergo the first examinations around 40 years old, to women about 10 years later, thanks to the so-called “hormone umbrella” that protects until the menopause.