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When is Surgery Necessary for IT Band Syndrome?

Iliotibial band syndrome, or IT band syndrome for short, is a common ailment marked by pain on the outside of the knee. While rest, physical therapy, and stretching exercises are effective conservative therapies for the majority of cases of IT band syndrome, in certain cases surgery may be required to relieve symptoms and restore function.



What is IT Band Syndrome
A thick band of connective tiss ue called the iliotibial band extends from the hip to the knee on the outside of the thigh. When this band is irritated or inflamed, usually from overuse or repeated action, it is known as IT band syndrome. IT band syndrome is more common among runners, bikers, and other athletes who perform frequent knee bending and straightening exercises.

When Conservative Treatments Fail
The majority of the time, conservative measures including rest, ice, anti-inflammatory drugs, physical therapy, and stretching exercises are sufficient to manage IT band syndrome. Treatments for hip bursitis can help relieve the symptoms of IT band syndrome in certain circumstances if it is exacerbated. However, surgery might be taken into consideration if symptoms don't go away despite these conservative approaches.

Indications for Surgery
Surgery for IT band syndrome is usually saved for situations in which the patient still has severe discomfort and functional impairments after trying conservative therapies without success. Several signs that surgery is necessary could be:

Persistent Pain: Surgery may be required to address underlying structural abnormalities contributing to IT band syndrome pain if it continues after several months of conservative treatment.


Structural Abnormalities: Tight IT bands, abnormalities in the bones, or abnormalities in the lower extremity's alignment can all be contributing factors to IT band syndrome. In order to address these underlying problems and relieve symptoms, surgery might be required.


Recurrent Symptoms: In order to address the underlying cause of the issue and stop future recurrences, patients who experience recurrent bouts of IT band syndrome despite conservative therapy may benefit from surgery.


Surgery could be suggested to enhance function and quality of life if IT band syndrome is severely affecting a patient's capacity to carry out everyday tasks, engage in sports, or enjoy leisure activities.

Surgical Options for IT Band Syndrome
For the treatment of IT band syndrome, there are various surgical procedures that include:

IT Band Release: To relieve stress and lessen friction between the band and the supporting structures, the tight or inflammatory part of the IT band is surgically loosened during an IT band release procedure.


Lateral Release: To realign the patella and loosen the tight structures on the outside of the knee, a lateral release procedure may be necessary if the IT band is putting undue strain on the kneecap.


Arthroscopic Surgery: Any intra-articular disease that contributes to IT band syndrome may be seen and treated using arthroscopic surgery, which uses a tiny camera and specialized equipment inserted through tiny incisions.


While conservative methods can effectively manage the majority of cases of IT band syndrome, in some circumstances, surgery may be required if symptoms continue or return. In patients with chronic or severe IT band syndrome, surgery can help relieve discomfort and improve function by addressing underlying structural abnormalities and restoring normal biomechanics. Dr. Ashok Kumar Sharma at Global Orthopaedics and Speciality Clinics will help you decide if surgery is the best course of action if you have ongoing knee pain or functional restrictions as a result of IT band syndrome. To arrange for your examination and consultation with the best arthroscopy surgeon in Delhi NCR, book appointment by visiting our website.

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