Who Is the Best Hip Surgeon in Clifton?
Dr. Michael K. Shindle is a widely recognized board-certified orthopedic surgeon in Clifton, NJ, known for his expertise in advanced hip procedures. He currently practices at our orthopedic clinic, Total Orthopedics & Sports Medicine, and has extensive experience in treating complex hip conditions using minimally invasive techniques and advanced arthroscopic procedures.
Our hip surgeon, Dr. Michael K. Shindle, has also served as a team physician for elite organizations, including the New Jersey Devils, USA Hockey, and the United States men’s national soccer team. This experience with high-level athletes has strengthened his ability to diagnose and manage complex joint injuries with accuracy and advanced surgical methods. Call us today at 855-321-6784 to book your appointment with Dr. Michael K. Shindle.
Why Choose Dr. Michael Shindle For Hip Surgery in Clifton?
Our hip surgeon, Dr. Michael K. Shindle, provides comprehensive care for patients with hip conditions, including torn labrum, hip impingement, cartilage damage, hip instability, arthritis, and joint degeneration. He carefully assesses the severity of your hip injury, joint stability, cartilage condition, and overall hip function to accurately diagnose your condition. This detailed approach helps him design an effective treatment plan to relieve pain and restore hip function.
Additionally, you receive personalized attention throughout your treatment, with a clear focus on your recovery and long-term mobility goals. Here’s how Dr. Michael K. Shindle helps improve your hip function through a targeted and patient-centered approach:
Accurate Diagnosis
Dr. Michael K. Shindle begins your treatment with a thorough clinical assessment to understand the exact source of your hip pain. He uses advanced imaging studies such as X-rays to evaluate bone alignment, joint space, and signs of degeneration. For instance, according to a case documented on NCBI, in one patient, preoperative hip radiographs (X-rays) of the right hip showed clear acetabular bony changes before surgery. This finding was clinically important for surgical planning. It also helped reduce the risk of postoperative iliopsoas impingement and related pain.
After imaging, Dr. Michael K. Shindle may conduct the following physical examinations to help confirm the diagnosis:
- Range of motion testing: He checks how far your hip can move in flexion, extension, rotation, and abduction to identify stiffness or restriction.
- Impingement tests (FADIR/FABER): These tests are used to reproduce hip pain and detect femoroacetabular impingement or labral irritation.
- Strength assessment: Evaluates muscle strength around the hip to detect weakness that may affect stability and movement.
- Gait analysis: Your walking pattern is observed to identify limping, imbalance, or compensatory movement.
Minimally Invasive Treatment Options
Minimally invasive techniques help reduce tissue damage, shorten recovery time, and improve overall hip function. During this procedure, your surgeon may make small incisions and use specialized instruments to access the hip joint with minimal disruption to surrounding muscles and soft tissues. After that, a small camera (arthroscope) is inserted to visualize the hip joint, femoral head, labrum, and cartilage surfaces. This allows the surgeon to accurately identify and repair the labral tear with minimal surgical trauma.
In fact, a study published in the NIH evaluated 102 patients undergoing total hip arthroplasty (THA). Among them, 38 patients had a mini-incision (less than 10 cm), 43 had a midi-incision (10–14 cm), and 21 had a standard incision (longer than 14 cm). The results revealed that the mini-incision group (minimally invasive) had a shorter operative time and less early postoperative pain.
Hip Pain Management After Hip Surgery
Effective pain management is an important part of your recovery after hip labral repair. Therefore, our hip surgeon, Dr. Michael K. Shindle, may use a combination of proven strategies to help control pain and support proper healing, such as:
- Prescription pain medications: Used in the early recovery phase to control post-surgical pain and help maintain comfort during initial healing.
- Anti-inflammatory medications: Help reduce swelling in the hip joint and support smoother movement.
- Ice therapy (cryotherapy): Applied regularly to the surgical area to reduce inflammation, control pain, and limit swelling after surgery.
Structured Recovery Plan
Our hip specialist, Dr. Michael K. Shindle, provides a step-by-step recovery plan to support safe healing and restore hip function. This plan is carefully designed based on the surgical procedure, your condition, and recovery goals. In the early stage, the focus is on protecting the hip joint and managing movement safely. As your recovery progresses, Dr. Michael K. Shindle may recommend gentle exercises to improve hip mobility and avoid joint stiffness.
Moreover, if you had a previously failed surgery and a revision surgery, a step-by-step recovery plan can help protect repaired tissues and reduce the risk of further complications. For instance, according to research on NCBI, rehabilitation after revision hip arthroscopy (RHA) follows a five-phase progression to ensure safe recovery:
- Protection: Focuses on protecting healing tissues using bracing, controlled movement, pain control, and limited weight-bearing to support early recovery.
- Endurance: Restore basic movement control and build muscular endurance while gradually increasing safe activity levels.
- Strength: Focuses on rebuilding hip and core strength through progressive resistance and controlled loading exercises.
- Power: Introduces dynamic and functional movements to improve hip stability, coordination, and load tolerance.
- Return to Sport: Supports a safe return to daily activities or sports through advanced functional training and readiness testing.
Why Is Fellowship Training Important for a Hip Surgeon?
Fellowship training ensures that the surgeon has completed additional specialized education in hip and orthopedic surgery after standard residency. During this advanced training, surgeons gain hands-on experience in complex hip procedures, including hip arthroscopic surgery, labral repair, femoroacetabular impingement (FAI) surgery, and cartilage restoration.
This specialized training also improves patient selection and surgical planning, helping the surgeon manage complex spinal conditions with accuracy. Moreover, a review of 23 studies on PubMed found that fellowship training improves patient outcomes. This analysis showed that centers with affiliated fellowship programs had lower mortality rates (odds ratio 0.86, 95% CI 0.84–0.88) than centers without fellowship programs. Complication rates were also lower in fellowship centers (odds ratio 0.90, 95% CI 0.78–1.02).
What Questions Should You Ask Before Choosing a Surgeon?
During your initial consultation with a hip surgeon, ask about their experience with hip procedures such as hip arthroscopy, labral repair, and cartilage restoration. After that, ask about the surgical techniques they use and the expected recovery time for your specific musculoskeletal conditions. It is also important to understand their post-surgical care plan, including follow-up visits and rehabilitation to protect the hip joint and restore mobility. Here are some additional questions you should ask your hip specialist during the first visit:
- How many hip surgeries have you performed similar to my condition?
- What treatment options are available for my hip problem and joint pain?
- Do I need surgery, or can my condition be treated without it?
- What surgical technique do you recommend for my case and why?
- Which sports-related injuries or fractures can you treat?
- What are the possible risks or complications of this procedure?
- How long will my recovery take before I return to an active life?
- Which daily-life activities should I avoid during each recovery phase?
- How often will I need follow-up visits after the procedure?
But if your surgeon does not clearly answer these questions or avoids providing detailed explanations, it may indicate a lack of transparency or communication. In such cases, you should not proceed with treatment and immediately contact our hip surgeon, Dr. Michael K. Shindle, at Total Orthopedics & Sports Medicine. He will conduct a thorough evaluation, explain your diagnosis clearly, and discuss all available treatment options. Call us at 855-321-6784 for expert orthopedic care.
When Should You See a Hip Surgeon?
You should consult our hip surgeon, Dr. Michael K. Shindle, if your hip pain persists despite rest, medication, and other conservative treatments. This ongoing pain may indicate an underlying structural problem in the hip joint, such as labral tears, cartilage damage, or hip impingement that requires immediate assessment.
You should also contact Dr. Michael K. Shindle if persistent hip pain begins to affect the quality of life or overall mobility. Moreover, you need immediate medical attention if you notice any of the following physical changes:
- Visible limping while walking: A clear change in your walking pattern due to pain or weakness.
- Swelling around the hip or upper thigh: Noticeable puffiness or enlargement in the joint area.
- Bruising or discoloration: Visible skin color changes around the hip after injury or strain.
- Muscle wasting around the hip: Noticeable reduction in muscle size on the affected side over time.
- Abnormal hip posture: The leg appears rotated, shortened, or positioned differently compared to the other side.
- Changes in step length: One step may appear shorter than the other due to limited hip range of motion.
How Can You Book a Consultation With Dr. Michael Shindle?
To book an appointment with Dr. Michael K. Shindle, you can directly call us at 855-321-6784. You can also fill out our online web form to schedule a consultation with him. While filling out the web form, provide your name, email address, contact number, and brief details about your hip condition. Once you fill out our form, our team will review your information and contact you to confirm your appointment date with Dr. Michael K. Shindle.
Other than that, you can visit our clinic at 1037 US-46 #2023, Clifton, NJ 07013 to schedule an in-person appointment with Doctor Michael K. Shindle. Our team will assist you with the booking process, answer your questions, and guide you on what documents to bring, such as:
- Photo ID: Identification verification for registration and appointment confirmation.
- Insurance card: Coverage details to help verify benefits and determine treatment eligibility.
- Previous medical records: History of prior hip evaluations, diagnoses, or treatments to understand your condition better.
- Imaging reports: Detailed views of your hip structure to support accurate diagnosis and treatment planning.
- Medication list: Information about current prescriptions and supplements to ensure safe and effective treatment.
Which Hip Conditions Are Treated by Orthopedic Specialists?
Our hip surgeon, Dr. Michael K. Shindle, can treat a wide range of hip conditions, including labral tears, femoroacetabular impingement (FAI), and cartilage damage. He can also manage hip arthritis, joint instability, hip dysplasia, and other degenerative or injury-related conditions that affect joint movement, stability, and daily function. Here are some additional conditions that Dr. Michael K. Shindle can treat safely and effectively:
Hip Bursitis (Inflammation)
Inflammation of the hip bursae can lead to persistent outer hip pain and constant discomfort. You may also feel pain while walking, climbing stairs, or lying on one side. Moreover, this pain often worsens with repeated movements, such as:
- Squatting
- Standing up from a seated position
- Bending at the hip
- Getting in and out of a car
- Running or jogging
- Turning the body while standing
Synovitis
Synovitis occurs when the lining of the hip joint becomes inflamed, leading to pain, swelling, and stiffness. This inflammation can make simple movements such as bending, rotating, or lifting the leg difficult. As swelling increases, pressure within the joint worsens, leading to increased stiffness and reduced smooth joint motion.
Avascular Necrosis (Osteonecrosis)
In this chronic condition, the blood supply to the hip bone is reduced or completely blocked, which causes bone tissue weakness over time. Without proper blood flow, the bone begins to degenerate, leading to gradual joint damage. This process often leads to increased hip pain, especially during weight-bearing activities such as walking or standing.
Failed Hip Arthroscopy
In some cases, patients may experience ongoing symptoms after hip arthroscopy when the underlying hip condition is not fully addressed. In fact, according to research co-authored by Dr. Michael K. Shindle, 24 revision hip arthroscopies were performed in 23 patients.
The results revealed that 79% of failed cases were associated with untreated bony impingement, such as cam or pincer deformities. Additionally, failed labral repairs and soft-tissue problems, including a tight psoas tendon, also contributed to persistent symptoms after the initial procedure.
In these cases, Dr. Michael K. Shindle can perform a detailed re-evaluation to identify the exact cause of failure. After that, he may recommend a targeted revision procedure to restore proper hip joint function and reduce pain. Call us at 855-321-6784 to explore your non-surgical and surgical options.
How Can a Hip Surgeon Treat Sports Injuries?
To treat sports injuries accurately, our hip specialist, Dr. Michael K. Shindle, first identifies the exact cause of your hip pain and joint dysfunction. After that, he carefully evaluates the extent of the injury using a detailed clinical examination and imaging studies to determine which hip structures are affected, such as the labrum, cartilage, muscles, or tendons.
Based on the diagnosis, Dr. Michael K. Shindle may recommend one of the following treatments to restore your hip joint function:
- Pain Medications: Reduce inflammation, control pain, and improve daily mobility during early recovery stages.
- PRP Therapy (Platelet-Rich Plasma): Uses concentrated platelets to promote healing in damaged hip tissues and reduce inflammation.
- Stem Cell Therapy: Supports regeneration of damaged cartilage and soft tissues to enhance long-term joint healing.
- Hip Arthroscopy: Minimally invasive surgery to treat internal joint damage, remove debris, and fix structural issues.
- Labral Repair: Surgically restores the torn labrum to improve hip stability, alignment, and overall joint function.
- Joint Replacement Surgery: Replaces the damaged hip joint with an artificial implant to restore movement, reduce pain, and improve daily function in severe cases.
How Do Surgeons Improve the Success of Hip Surgery?
Hip surgeons use accurate diagnosis, minimally invasive techniques, and advanced technologies to improve the outcomes of hip surgery. For instance, they may use computer-assisted navigation systems to enhance precision during the procedure and ensure proper alignment of the hip joint. Surgeons may also use arthroscopic cameras to clearly visualize the inside of your hip joint and damaged structures such as the labrum or cartilage. Here are some additional intraoperative tools hip surgeons may use to improve surgical outcomes:
- Fluoroscopy imaging: Provides real-time X-ray guidance to confirm bone positioning and surgical accuracy during procedures.
- Suture anchor systems: Securely reattach torn labral tissue to restore joint stability and function.
- Radiofrequency probes: Help remove damaged tissue and control bleeding with precision during surgery.
- Motorized shavers: Remove damaged cartilage or debris to improve joint movement and reduce irritation.
- Joint distraction systems: Create space within the hip joint to allow safe and clear access during arthroscopy.
Book an Appointment with Our Fellowship-Trained Hip Surgeon in Clifton!
If you are considering hip surgery for constant joint pain and limited mobility, finding a board-certified, fellowship-trained hip surgeon can be challenging and stressful. You may also struggle with understanding different treatment approaches, unclear diagnoses, and unnecessary delays.
As a Player Safety Coordinator for Atlantic District and USA Hockey, our hip specialist, Dr. Michael K. Shindle, at Total Orthopedics & Sports Medicine, brings extensive experience in managing complex hip injuries. Moreover, he carefully reviews your medical history and imaging results to determine if hip surgery is appropriate for your condition. Call 855-321-6784 or visit us at 925 Clifton Ave, Clifton, NJ 07013, USA for effective and quality care.
FAQs
How Long Does It Take to Fully Recover After Hip Surgery?
In our experience, patients usually fully recover within 3 to 6 months after hip surgery. However, in more complex cases or revision surgeries, full recovery may take up to 9 to 12 months. To speed up your recovery, you should follow your rehabilitation plan and attend all follow-up appointments.
Which Imaging Tests Are Required Before Hip Replacement?
Before hip replacement surgery, you may need X-rays and an MRI to properly evaluate the hip joint. X-rays help assess bone structure, arthritis severity, and overall hip alignment. Similarly, an MRI provides a detailed view of the soft tissues around the hip, including cartilage, the labrum, and surrounding structures.
How Much Does Hip Surgery Cost in Clifton, NJ?
In Clifton, hip surgery typically costs around $7,196 to $12,065. This cost usually includes surgeon fees, hospital or facility charges, anesthesia, and pre- and post-operative care. However, the final surgery cost can vary depending on the complexity of the procedure and the type of implant used.
What Qualifications Should an Orthopedic Surgeon Have?
An orthopedic surgeon must complete 13–15 years of training, including four years of medical school (MD or DO), a five-year orthopedic residency, and often 1–2 years of fellowship training. Moreover, they must be board-certified by the American Board of Orthopedic Surgery.
Is Dr. Michael Shindle Experienced With Athletes?
Yes, Dr. Michael K. Shindle has extensive experience working with athletes at all levels. He has served as a team physician for the New Jersey Devils, USA Hockey, and the United States men’s national soccer team. This experience allows him to understand injury patterns in high-performance sports.
