A group of people use large scissors to cut a ribbon at a ceremony.
Founding members of the International Center for Hip Preservation, HCA HealthONE Sky Ridge staff and the mayor of Lone Tree celebrate the opening of the International Center for Hip Preservation surgical center. Credit: Haley Lena

In the United States, corrective surgery for hip dysplasia typically involves two separate surgeries. But four Denver-based doctors have established a new surgical center that focuses on repair and preservation rather than replacement. 

Based at HCA HealthONE Sky Ridge in Lone Tree, the International Center for Hip Preservation is the first-of-its-kind in the country to bring together internationally-recognized orthopedic hip preservation specialists to promote and advance the art and science of hip preservation. 

“We’re doing our best to preserve the lifespan of (a patient’s) hips for as long as possible,” said founding member, Dr. Michael Ellman. “We are trying to perform procedures that are preventable, in addition to therapeutic.”

What is hip dysplasia?

Hip dysplasia is when the top part of the femur does not fit properly into the hip socket.

According to the International Hip Dysplasia Institute, hip instability and dislocation are more likely to occur in infancy, and a shallow socket is more likely to be discovered during adolescence or adulthood. 

While it’s estimated that about one- in-10 infants are born with hip instability and one-in-100 are treated for hip dysplasia, adult hip dysplasia is nine times more common than infantile hip dysplasia. 

Hip dysplasia is also a leading cause of pain and instability in active women ages 13 to 40. It’s also a leading cause of early osteoarthritis in women under the age of 50. 

Since this demographic is at high-risk, Ellman said that early intervention is key to long-term mobility and a better quality of life. 

The center also treats hip labral tears and impingements. 

Hip labral tears occur when the cartilage tissue that lines the hip tears and hip impingement – also known as FAI – is a condition in which irregularly-shaped bones in the hip joint rub against one another. Ellman said individuals are most likely born with the condition, rather than developing it over time, and can create labral tears if not treated. 

Treating hip pain

Rather than conducting a hip replacement, surgeons at the center work with patients to try to prevent them from getting to that point of needing a replacement. 

Hip preservation surgery relieves hip pain by reshaping the natural joint or repairing damaged tissue. Ellman said that most people who receive a hip preservation operation undergo hip arthroscopy (PAO), which can involve reshaping the hip socket. 

A man speaks at an opening ceremony.
Dr. Michael Ellman, who has focused on hip preservation and complex hip arthroscopy in young, active patients, speaks at the official ribbon cutting of the International Center for Hip Preservation surgical center in Lone Tree. Credit: Haley Lena

“This isn’t like the standard 60-to-70-year-old getting a hip replacement,” said Ellman. “These are anywhere from 12-to-45-year-old patients.”

Riley Gray, a 16-year-old athlete from the Centennial area, had the procedure. 

She was an avid club volleyball player when the pain in her knees and back hindered her ability to move freely – and discovered she had hip dysplasia. 

She underwent surgery at the beginning of the year and is now a volunteer at Sky Ridge. Not only does she help restock supplies, she has had the opportunity to speak with patients who get the procedure. 

“It’s inspiring to see their faces light up when I tell them that I had it, too, and it’s all going to be OK,” Gray said. 

With more than a decade of experience, Ellman focuses on hip preservation and complex hip arthroscopy in young, active patients. He said that throughout his research, he has noticed that the metro area treats a high volume of hip preservation patients across from Colorado. 

“(It’s) higher than most places in the country just because we’re attracting so many young, active people here who want to hike, (and) want to ski and snowboard,”’ Ellman said. 

The center in Lone Tree has performed approximately 1,000 surgeries since it opened in 2023, and having seen many gymnasts, dancers, runners and triathletes, Ellman hopes the center and the knowledge of hip preservation will become a new frontier in sports medicine. 

“What we’re really doing is helping our patients continue to have a great quality of life and continue on being active and getting back to doing the things that they like to do,” said Wes Ayres, chief operating officer at HCA HealthONE Sky Ridge. 

Gaining an international perspective

With three pillars of focus: critical excellence, education and research, the goal of the center is to revolutionize surgical treatment, advance research to create best preservation practices and establish training programs. 

It is using the latest technology – like an advanced CT scan that creates a 3D model of the patient’s hip – as well as collecting and tracking patient data to improve patient care and clinical outcomes.  

In addition to working with specialists through HCA Healthcare, which is a 180-hospital system, the center is expanding beyond U.S. borders. 

The center has about 40-to-50 surgeons from around the world, including the United Kingdom, South America, Switzerland and Canada, who join together via zoom to present difficult cases and work to find treatment options. 

“It’s been really beneficial to get an international perspective on a lot of hip patients,” said Ellman. “We’re really inviting anyone who can push the field of hip preservation forward to join us.”

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