PAO (periacetabular osteotomy)
PAO (periacetabular osteotomy) is a type of hip preservation surgery. It is used to treat hip dysplasia, where the hip socket isn’t properly supporting the joint.
Understand what’s causing your pain
A thorough, specialist assessment
Your consultant will carefully listen to your symptoms and learn how they’re affecting your movement before explaining whether hip preservation surgery (PAO) could help.
Protect your natural hip
Surgery with a long-term view
PAO repositions the hip socket to ensure pressure is spread more evenly across the joint, which reduces hip pain dramatically as well as delaying the need for hip replacement
Care shaped around you
Support through recovery
Your care team will be there to support you at every step, creating a plan tailored to your progress and the activities that matter to you.
PAO overview
PAO (periacetabular osteotomy) is a type of hip preservation surgery. It is used to treat hip dysplasia, where the hip socket isn’t properly supporting the joint. During PAO, your surgeon moves the hip socket into a better position to create a more supportive position for the ball. This can ease your pain and make moving around more comfortable. By distributing pressure more evenly across the joint, the procedure may also give your natural hip extra protection and delay the need for a hip replacement. After carefully assessing your hip, your consultant will explain what PAO can do for you and answer any questions you might have.
How is surgery carried out?
PAO is an open hip procedure and is performed through an incision less than 10cm long. You’ll be asleep during the operation because you’ll have sedation with the spinal anaesthetic, making you comfortable and relaxed throughout.
Your surgeon makes precise cuts in the pelvic bone around the hip socket. This adjustment helps position the socket to give the ball better support. Screws hold the bone securely while it heals.
Rarely, the surgeon will also need to adjust the upper thigh bone so the ball sits more securely within the socket. This process, called a femoral osteotomy, involves carefully cutting and realigning the bone before securing it with a plate and screws while it heals.
Before your surgery, the consultant will talk you through the approach and what it could mean for your recovery, so you feel well-informed and supported.
Are there any risks?
PAO is a major operation, so it’s understandable to have questions about the risks involved. Your consultant will explain everything clearly and give you time to decide what’s right for you.
Possible complications include:
- Infection
- Bleeding
- A blood clot
- Injury to a nearby nerve or blood vessel
- A numb area on the side of the thigh
- The bone taking longer than expected to heal or not healing fully
- Pain or stiffness that continues after surgery
- Needing another operation
The operation may not relieve all your symptoms, and joint wear and tear (arthritis) can still happen as time goes on. However, your care team will do all they can to reduce the risk of complications and explain which ones are most relevant to you.
PAO Recovery
Protecting your hip
You’ll usually use crutches to protect your hip and begin gentle exercises while the bone starts to heal. Hydrotherapy is particularly useful during this phase.
Rebuilding your strength
Your physiotherapy will gradually help you rebuild strength and feel more confident as your activity levels increase.
Returning to activity
You may begin returning to running or sports in stages once your hip has healed and you’ve rebuilt enough strength and movement.
Working with hip professionals and teams
Our hip specialists support professional athletes, sports teams, active individuals and people whose work places high demands on their hips. Working closely with radiologists, physiotherapists and the wider multidisciplinary team, they provide coordinated care from diagnosis through to rehabilitation, helping each person return safely to sport, work or everyday activities.
The same specialist expertise and collaborative approach are available to every patient, whatever your activity level or recovery goals.
Our Experts - Leaders in Hip treatment
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How to pay
We offer flexible options depending on how you choose to access care at Fortius. Whichever option you choose, we’ll help make the process clear and straightforward from the start.
Private medical insurance
If your care is covered by private medical insurance, we’ll usually invoice your insurer directly. Please check your policy in advance and request an authorisation code if your insurer requires one. You’ll be responsible for paying any policy excess or costs that aren’t covered by your insurance.
Paying for yourself
You don’t need private medical insurance to access care at Fortius. If you’re paying for your own treatment, our team will explain the costs clearly and provide a personalised quote before you decide whether to go ahead.
Find a clinic near you
Fortius Clinic Marylebone Wing
Our 79,000 sq ft, seven-story, private hospital on Wigmore Street has 39 en-suite inpatient rooms, consultation and treatment rooms, and a physiotherapy suite.
The hospital has a high-spec imaging suite fully equipped with an MRI, CT scanner and X-ray machine. There are three state-of-the-art operating theatres, two anaesthetic rooms and a recovery bay.
Fortius Clinic London has two Mako robots for hip and knee joint replacements.
- 66 Wigmore StreetW1U 2SB
- +442031952442
- Open 24 hours
- Sports & Exercise Medicine
- Snow Injuries Clinic
- Tendon
- Ultrasound
- X-Ray
- Physician services
- Rheumatology
- CT guided injection
- MRI Scan
- CT Scan
Fortius Clinic Wimbledon
Our Wimbledon clinic houses a state-of-the-art imaging centre with a 3T MRI and X-ray scanners, Ultrasound, seven consulting rooms, two spacious waiting areas and well equipped treatment rooms all located on one level, ensuring easy accessibility for all patients.
Our partnership with Spire St Anthony’s Hospital allows us to provide orthopaedic surgery closer to our clinic. We treat a full range of conditions and perform joint replacement surgery using the latest Mako robotic assisted technology.
Take a tour of our clinic virtually through Google 360 views here.
We are open Monday to Friday from 8.00am to 8.00pm, and Saturday mornings from 8.30am to 12.30pm.
If you are travelling by Tube, our closest underground station is Wimbledon (District Line), which also has rail and tramlink services from central London and beyond.
There is no parking available at the clinic, but we have a number of parking facilities all within a 10-12 minute walk of the clinic: Centre Court Car Park, Broadway Car Park, and Hartfield Road Car Park. Please note that all of these facilities are paid car parks.
The building at 22 Worple Road has steps leading up to the front entrance. If you require assistance please inform us before your arrival by calling ahead on 020 3195 2442
- 22 Worple RoadSW19 4DD
- 0203 195 2442
- Snow Injuries Clinic
- Ultrasound
- X-Ray
- MRI Scan
Fortius Clinic Marylebone
Our Marylebone Clinic is conveniently located in the historic area between Baker Street and Marylebone High Street, just off Manchester Square, home to the iconic Wallace Collection. We have seven consulting rooms, private waiting areas on each floor, well equipped treatment rooms and diagnostic imaging.
- 17 Fitzhardinge StreetW1U 2EU
- 020 3195 2442
- MRI Scan
- Ultrasound
- X-Ray
- Physician services
- Rheumatology
Fortius Clinic City
Our City Clinic is conveniently located between Bank and Monument stations, within the historic and financial heart of London. At our modern, two-floor facility we have nine consulting rooms, spacious waiting areas, well equipped treatment rooms and an imaging centre.
Explore our City Clinic with our virtual tour.
If you are travelling by Tube, our closest underground stations are Bank and Monument, exit 6 for King William Street.
Should you be travelling by car, the closest parking is a three minute drive away at NCP Car Park London Vintry Thames Exchange. If you are attending clinic on a weekday, please be aware that we are based in the congestion charge zone.
- 75 King William StreetEC4N 7BE
- 0203 195 2442
- Monday to Friday from 8.00am to 8.00pm.
- Snow Injuries Clinic
- Tendon
- Sports & Exercise Medicine
- Ultrasound
- X-Ray
- Physician services
- Rheumatology
- MRI Scan
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