DOWNERS GROVE, Ill. — DuPage Medical Group orthopaedic surgeon Dr. Rueben Nair recently performed a successful, minimally invasive Endoscopic Gluteus Minimus Repair surgery, which was the first of its kind to be completed at Edward Hospital in Naperville. DMG remains the largest independent, multi-specialty physician group in the Chicago area, and Dr. Nair is the only orthopaedic physician at DMG who performs this procedure.
Endoscopic Gluteus Medius/Minimus Repair surgery is performed most commonly on a specific patient population, usually 60 years or older, suffering from Greater Trochanteric Pain Syndrome in the gluteus medius or minimus. Located in the lateral hip area of the body, the gluteus medius/minimus is one of three muscles in the buttocks, situated outside the hip and used to help stabilize the pelvis, perform hip abduction and help in hip rotation.
Patients with Greater Trochanteric Pain Syndrome diagnosis are typically recommended by their physician to take a conservative approach in treatment, which includes physical therapy or a Cortisone injection to help relieve the pain or inflammation. If pain continues in the lateral hip despite conservative management, and if an MRI shows damage to the gluteus medius/minimus tendons, then reparative surgery may be an option.
When this minimally invasive procedure is performed, the surgeon makes three small poke-hole incisions around the hip joint and uses a scope to repair the tear using bone anchors. After the surgical procedure is complete, the incisions are closed with sutures. The patient goes home the same day and wears a protective brace and uses crutches for approximately four weeks. With a full recovery period of anywhere from three to six months, the patient will begin physical therapy focused on motion, strength and then functional rehabilitation to gradually get back to everyday activities.
Dr. Nair successfully performed the surgery in mid December 2017 on Eileen Schedel, a nurse practitioner and mother of three. At 52 years old, Eileen is active with high school-aged sons and needed to find relief from significant pain after a hip surgery proved unsuccessful some years ago.
Following an evaluation by Dr. Nair and an MRI scan, Eileen was informed by Dr. Nair that she had two options to treat her recurrent pain, which most likely was being caused by a worsening tear. The first option was to continue conservative management with more physical therapy, and the second option was to undergo the Endoscopic Gluteus Minimus Repair procedure. Eileen elected to have the surgery and was treated by Dr. Nair at Edward Hospital on Dec. 15. Eileen is now on the road to full recovery, closely following Dr. Nair’s rules for daily stretching and physical therapy, so she can return to her active lifestyle of Pilates, swimming and college campus visits with her boys.
“Dr. Nair has a lot of great things to offer,” said Eileen. “He has a great bedside manner and comes to DMG with innovative approaches. I really appreciate that he thinks outside of the box,” she continued. “I made the right decision. I didn’t need to go to a university setting for my procedure, because he provided exactly what I needed. In fact, if he was at DMG a few years ago when I needed my initial surgery, I would have chosen Dr. Nair sooner.”
Dr. Nair joined DMG in August 2017 after completing his sports medicine fellowship at UC Health Steadman Hawkins Clinic — Denver, an institution known for treating “high-level” athletes, including providing care for the Denver Broncos and Colorado Rockies professional sports teams. There, he was trained on many of the latest surgical techniques, including Endoscopic Gluteus Medius/Minimus Repair surgery.
To learn more about Dr. Nair, the Endoscopic Gluteus Medius/Minimus Repair procedure, other DMG physicians or to schedule an appointment, visit DupageMedicalGroup.com.
About DuPage Medical Group
Founded in 1999, DuPage Medical Group is the largest independent, multi-specialty physician group with more than 700 physicians in over 100 suburban Chicago locations. DMG is a patient-centered organization focused on improving access to convenient, quality health care using the latest technology and treatment options. For more information, visit www.dulyhealthandcare.com.