Rainbow Children’s Hospital launches Hip Preservation Clinic in Bengaluru

Rainbow Children’s Hospital & BirthRight, Marathahalli, Bengaluru, has launched a dedicated Hip Preservation Clinic for children, teenagers and young adults with hip-related problems.

A hip problem during the teenage or young adult years can have consequences beyond pain or difficulty in movement. When the ball and socket of the hip do not fit together properly, or when the joint is affected by dislocation, infection, trauma or sports-related injuries, abnormal mechanics can progressively damage the cartilage and affect the long-term function of the joint.

The clinic focuses on preserving the natural hip, improving its function and delaying or, where possible, avoiding the need for hip replacement at a young age. Unlike replacement procedures, which replace the damaged joint with an artificial one, hip preservation aims to correct abnormalities in a hip that still has healthy cartilage, thereby helping extend the functional life of the native joint.

Dr. Jayanth Sundar Sampath, Senior Consultant – Pediatric Orthopedics, Rainbow Children’s Hospital, said, “The whole idea is to prolong the life of the hip and to get as much good function from the hip as possible. The aim is to relieve pain, improve function and improve the person’s quality of life. We try to postpone or avoid the need for hip replacement.”

Hip preservation may be considered for patients with an abnormal hip anatomy but preserved cartilage, where correcting the mechanics of the joint could help prevent further wear. Depending on the condition, specialists may use procedures to restore the shape of the ball, improve the alignment of the socket or correct the way the two components of the joint fit together.

The clinic will also address sports-related injuries involving the hip, including problems affecting muscles, tendons, cartilage and surrounding soft tissues.

The clinic brings together expertise across pediatric and young adult hip care, with Dr. Avi Shah, Pediatric Hip Preservation Surgeon; Dr. Raghavendra Kembhavi, Hip Preservation Surgeon for Adults; Dr. Girish Kumar AM, Clinical Lead – Hip Preservation Surgery; and Dr. Jayanth Sundar Sampath, Senior Consultant – Pediatric Orthopedics. This combined approach allows patients to be assessed by specialists with expertise in both pediatric and young adult hip conditions.

A key component of the clinic is the availability of both open hip preservation procedures and minimally invasive hip arthroscopy, depending on the patient’s condition and suitability. Hip arthroscopy uses keyhole access and can be used for selected hip conditions and injuries.

The clinic will also incorporate specialist sports physiotherapy to support rehabilitation following treatment and guide patients who may be managed without surgery.

The clinic is intended for patients from the teenage years through young adulthood, broadly from around 12 to 30 years, with hip-related problems. Not every patient will require surgery. Careful assessment of the hip, including the condition of the cartilage, will help determine whether preservation is appropriate.

Through the new clinic, Rainbow Children’s Hospital aims to provide young patients with specialised, coordinated care focused on preserving the native hip, reducing pain, restoring function and helping them remain active during their formative and young adult years.