Synovitis

Synovitis

The synovial membrane of the hip joint should be white. When the hip joint is irritated or painful, it is often because the joint lining (Synovium) is irritated, inflamed and RED.


Synovitis before treatment


Synovitis after treament

During the hip arthroscopy procedure, we clean out the redness and get rid of the inflammation that has been causing the pain. Cortisone injections can sometimes get rid of the inflammation (just like Visine eye drops can get rid of the redness), but if there is damage inside the hip, the cortisone is usually ineffective or the pain just comes back after a short while.

Arthroscopic synovectomy, CPT 29823, is one of the few recognized codes covered by most insurance carriers. The key to treating this condition is to treat the underlying problem (labral Tear, FAI, loose bodies, etc.), which causes the synovitis to be present in the first place. Once that underlying condition is successfully treated, the inflammation usually resolves and does not come back. The inflammation can be limited to the capsule/synovium or it can extend onto the labrum. In either case, a hip that is red and inflamed inside is a hip that hurts!

In almost all cases of hip arthroscopy, we encounter synovitis and we clean it out. If you've had hip arthroscopy elsewhere, take a good look at your pictures and see if you can understand where your synovitis was and how intense it was. That will likely give you useful information and insight into your condition.

I would like to thank you sincerely for the great care that you have provided me. I am deeply grateful to both of you and all your wonderful clinic and hospital team.

Dr. Hyman diagnosed my problem right away. I had surgery a couple of months later and now after 2 years I feel like a new person.

Since Dr. Hyman operated on my left hip I’ve been able to walk better, longer, and with better ease than I could ever imagine.

I thank God every day that I had that surgery since I have finally gotten rid of the pain that has kept me awake at night for years.

I appreciate you taking the time to educate me about my injury. I also appreciate the kindness and professionalism of the entire staff at Atlanta Sports Medicine.

Thank you so much from the bottom of my heart. For the first time in approximately a year and a half I am pain free.

I appreciate the attentive, professional care and could not envision a better experience. I truly am thankful to be under your care.