Dr. Welch is one of the few surgeons on the seacoast who performs arthroscopic hip surgery. Dr. Welch has extensive training in hip arthroscopy; during his fellowship at the Kerlan Jobe Clinic in Los Angeles, Dr. Welch trained under thought leaders in the field, including Jason Snibbe, MD, Michael Gerhardt, MD and Michael Banffy, MD.

Hip injuries are not as common as knee injuries, but such injuries can lead to severe discomfort and often hamper one’s function. The hip joint is made up of the end of the femur bone (“ball”), pelvis (“socket”) cartilage that lines the bones, ligaments, tendons, and the labrum (“bumper” that lines the socket). Some patients injure the hip during a sports injury or traumatic injury (such as a car accident); more commonly, pain develops without a clear injury. This type of pain may be related to femoro-acetabular impingement, a condition that leads to grinding between the two bones that make up the hip. Other, less common, conditions include gluteal tendon tears on the outside of the hip.

For each patient, Dr. Welch performs a detailed review of each patient’s story as well as a comprehensive physical exam to assess each patient. If necessary, Dr. Welch will obtains x-rays and/or an MRI to further evaluate the structures in the hip. Most patients may benefit from non-surgical management for injuries in the knee, including a dedicated physical therapy program. For those patients who require surgery, Dr. Welch treats multiple hip conditions with minimally invasive arthroscopic hip surgery, including labral tears, femoro-acetabular impingement (FAI), cartilage injuries, tendon injuries (snapping hip syndrome), gluteal tendon tears, and trochanteric bursitis, among others.

Dr. Welch treats patients from all walks of life and considers each patient’s lifestyle when formulating a treatment plan for each patient. Many patients often respond well to non-surgical treatment, which may include a dedicated physical therapy program. In those patients who require surgery, Dr. Welch tailors his surgical plan to each patient’s goals.