Record laparoscopic hip surgery at the Regina Margherita hospital

At the Regina Margherita Children's Hospital in Turin, in collaboration with the CTO hospital, surgeons carry out, for the first time in Europe, a correction of hip dysplasia using a laparoscopic technique. The operation, announced on 8 November 2026, involved a seventeen-year-old patient, referred to under the pseudonym Chiara, who played sport but suffered from hip pain caused by a congenital deformity of the acetabulum, the socket in the pelvis that houses the head of the femur ^[1][2].

The operation

The procedure used, called periacetabular osteotomy, is an established technique for correcting hip dysplasia, a malformation affecting between one and seven people in every thousand. The traditional operation involves wide surgical exposure and controlled cuts in the bone around the acetabulum, which is then reoriented and fixed with screws during healing. The innovation introduced in Turin concerns the surgical approach: the laparoscopic technique reaches the bone through small incisions, using a camera that sends magnified images of the operating field to a monitor. The principles of the correction remain the same, but the smaller exposure and reduced tissue dissection could mean less post-operative pain, smaller scars and a faster initial recovery ^[1][2].

The stated aim of the operation was to preserve the patient's natural joint, reducing the risk of needing a hip replacement in future ^[1][2].

The medical team

The operation was carried out by professor Alessandro Aprato and doctors Matteo Giachino, Michele Nardi and Andrea Audisio, all trained in the school of professor Alessandro Massè and active between the CTO and Regina Margherita hospitals. The operation was made possible by cooperation between the Regina Margherita Department of Child Pathology and Care, headed by professor Franca Fagioli, and the Department of Orthopaedics, Traumatology and Rehabilitation, led by professor Giuseppe Massazza ^[1][2].

Statements

The general manager of the OIRM-Sant'Anna hospital group, Adriano Leli, described the operation as confirmation of the Regina Margherita hospital's expertise, stressing that it opens new treatment options for children and teenagers with the same condition. The general manager of the Città della Salute hospital complex, Livio Tranchida, highlighted the value of the cooperation between the CTO and Regina Margherita medical teams ^[2].

Hip dysplasia

Hip dysplasia is a malformation in which the acetabulum does not properly cover the head of the femur, raising the risk of early-onset osteoarthritis. The condition affects between one and seven people in every thousand, which is why newborns undergo an ultrasound screening to detect it early ^[1][2].

Sources

1. Regina Margherita, intervento record: corretta una malformazione dell'anca con la laparoscopia — CronacaQui Torino, 8 November 2026
2. Torino, primato europeo all'ospedale Regina Margherita: eseguito il primo intervento di chirurgia dell'anca in laparoscopia su un'adolescente — Prima Torino, 8 November 2026
3. Laparoscopia per correggere deformità all'anca di una 17enne, intervento a Torino — ANSA Piemonte, 8 November 2026
4. Displasia dell'anca corretta in laparoscopia al Regina Margherita con il Cto — la Repubblica Torino, 8 November 2026