Osteitis Pubis Specialist
-
- Tweet
Premier Hip Arthroscopy
Dean Matsuda, MD
Orthopedic Surgeon & Hip Specialist located in Marina Del Rey / Los Angeles, CA
Osteitis pubis is the clinical term for inflammation of your pubic bone and the surrounding tissues, which can cause groin and central pelvic pain. At Premier Hip Arthroscopy, Dean Matsuda, MD, a world-renowned orthopedic hip specialist, has developed innovative procedures and instruments for successful minimally invasive treatment of osteitis pubis and other orthopedic conditions that cause pelvic pain. Call the Marina Del Rey / Los Angeles, California office or schedule a consultation online today.
Osteitis Pubis
What is osteitis pubis?
Osteitis pubis is a painful condition at the front of your pelvis called the pubic symphysis. It may be one of a number of related conditions called athletic pubalgia or core muscle injury.
Osteitis pubis causes a number of symptoms, including:
- Anterior (front) pelvic pain
- Lower abdominal pain
- A clicking or popping sensation when you change position or walk
- Weakness
- Abnormal gait or ambulation
- Painful hip adductor muscles
- Pain during abdominal muscle contraction (sit-ups)
Your pain typically becomes worse when you’re active or may even hurt when you put pressure on your pelvic floor by sneezing, coughing, or picking up a heavy object.
A wide range of conditions could cause these symptoms, so it’s especially important to get an accurate diagnosis and appropriate treatment.
What are the causes of osteitis pubis?
Osteitis pubis is an inflammatory condition. Athletes can develop inflammation because of repetitive stress and strain on their pelvic bone, hips, and pelvic floor.
It is often seen in patients with FAI (femoroacetabular impingement) because the blocked hip motion transfers abnormal stress to the pubic bone and symphysis pubis.
Pregnant women also have a higher risk of developing osteitis pubis. A history of trauma or injury to your pelvic area, including gynecologic, urologic, or abdominal surgery, can increase your chances of osteitis pubis.
How is the cause of osteitis pubis diagnosed?
If you have chronic pelvic or hip pain, make an appointment with Dr. Matsuda at Premier Hip Arthroscopy. He provides comprehensive exams combined with diagnostic imaging studies like X-rays and MRIs to diagnose your condition.
For example, X-rays can reveal sometimes subtle irregularities in your pubic bone like sclerosis (thick edges), osteopenia (low bone density), or bone cysts or spurs, which may be evidence of chronic inflammation. MRI can detect bone marrow edema (fluid), damage to fibrocartilage, and sometimes adjacent damage to the surrounding tendons and muscles.
In addition to his extensive training and experience, Dr. Matsuda is a former running back.Having had bilateral hip arthroscopies himself, he knows what you’re going through and works diligently to identify and treat the condition causing your pain.
How is osteitis pubis treated?
Dr. Matsuda may initially recommend noninvasive treatments like rest, cortisone injections, and physical therapy.
If these conservative treatments don’t relieve your pain, Dr. Matsuda offers expert surgeries to address the condition including endoscopic pubic symphysectomy (minimally invasive outpatient camera surgery to debride or clean out the damaged tissue), and endoscopic repair of core muscle injuries such as torn adductor tendons and/or torn rectus abdominis muscles. A structure called the prepubic aponeurosis is sometimes damaged and Dr. Matsuda is able to perform its repair using the camera. He is the inventor of these innovative surgeries.
Schedule an appointment at Premier Hip Arthroscopy by calling the practice or using the online scheduling tool for expert diagnosis and treatment of pelvic pain.
