General FAQs

Our practice hours are from 8:30 am to 5:00 pm, Monday through Friday. Dr. Wolff will typically see patients in the clinic on Tuesdays and Thursdays with telehealth appointments also available. Appointments can be made by calling or texting us at 202-838-8837 and through our HIPAA secured portal.

We are out of network with all commercial insurances. We understand that this is confusing. Click here for more information. If you still have questions or concerns, please contact Dr. Wolff’s assistant, admin@andrewwolffmd.com.

When you come for your appointment remember to bring the following:

  • Driver’s license or state-issued photo ID
  • Insurance information
  • Copies of relevant operation records, medical records, x-rays, MRIs, CT scans and so on from prior doctor visits
  • Medications list (if any)
  • If you have had surgery elsewhere, please bring a copy of your operative report

Procedure Related FAQs

Diagnosing injuries and disease begins with a thorough medical history, physical examination, and usually X-rays. Additional tests such as an MRI, or CT scan also may be needed. Through the arthroscope, a final diagnosis is made which may be more accurate than through “open” surgery or from imaging studies.

No, it is not a surgery that should be performed unless you are experiencing symptoms caused by the labral tear or femoroacetabular impingement (FAI). It is not recommended that it be performed based solely on an abnormal imaging result.

Total hip replacements are very rare without the diagnosis of advanced osteoarthritis. Hip arthroscopy is not indicated for the treatment of osteoarthritis. Unfortunately, this diagnosis means you are not a candidate for this surgical procedure. Read more

Yes. Arthroscopic surgery of the hip is a technically demanding procedure to perform consistently well. It is regarded among the toughest skills to master in all of Orthopaedic Surgery. Just as important and difficult to master is the ability to understand a patient’s hip problem and design a treatment plan that meets that patient’s goals. It is for this reason that Dr. Wolff has chosen to focus his entire practice on performing arthroscopic hip surgery at the highest level.

Dr. Wolff performs approximately 300 arthroscopic hip surgeries per year. He has been in practice since 2008.

He performed his first in 2009 and is considered a pioneer in this field. He has shown his technique to be equally or more effective than labral repair. Read more about labral reconstruction and Dr. Wolff’s involvement in the expanding field of hip arthroscopy.

A part of a donor Iliotibial band is custom sized and shaped to reconstruct the patient’s labrum. Read more about labral reconstruction approach. 

No. Allografts, as this donor tissue is known, are widely used throughout the body. The tissue is from donors who are screened for infection and then the tissue is completely sterilized. It basically acts as a scaffold of collagen for your own tissue to incorporate into. Because it doesn’t have a lot of blood flow through it (like a donated heart or kidney), rejection doesn’t happen.

No. It is Dr. Wolff’s practice to rehab these procedures the same.

No, Dr. Wolff will not perform a total hip replacement if too much arthritis is found. Finding too much arthritis in surgery is something that Dr. Wolff tries to prevent, which is why imaging studies are taken before surgery including x-rays and high quality MRIs.

Over 90% in general. There are, however, many factors such as patient health, age, and post-operative demands and compliance that may affect this number. Dr. Wolff will individualize his recommendation for treatment based on your individual characteristics and provide you with an honest opinion of what your chances of success are. Please remember, all patients are different and heal at their own pace. Please be patient, and listen to your body.

FAQs on Surgery Logistics

In most cases, Dr. Wolff is not able to provide the exact time for surgery more than one week out. An estimated time is typically available roughly one week before surgery. This is because laterality must be coordinated between the surgery center and other surgical patients with comorbidities. You are more than welcome to check in with Dr. Wolff’s medical assistant roughly a week before to ask for the estimated time of surgery and arrival time. The surgery center always has the final say in times.

Dr. Wolff typically does not require a pre-operative clearance unless you have an adverse health history (but some of the facilities at which he operates may). Be sure to tell us if you have a history of bleeding/clotting disorders, heart valve defects, diabetes, etc. Please also make sure you have reviewed the pre-op surgery packet given to you by Dr. Wolff’s assistant at the time of scheduling surgery. Click here to find some additional preoperative information.

No. During surgery you will receive an IV dose of antibiotics to help prevent infection. Unless there is reason to believe you may have an infection after surgery, we do not provide antibiotics. Dr. Wolff has a very low threshold to prescribe antibiotics if he suspects any chance of infection, so do not be alarmed if you are prescribed these at a post-op appointment.

Generally speaking, the minimally invasive nature of this procedure results in less post-op pain. Usually patients do not require post-op pain medications beyond 48-72 hours after surgery. Some patients actually get by without any pain medicine after surgery. With this surgery, you should expect discomfort, but pain should be minimal. You may have difficulty finding comfortable sleeping positions and require more frequent change in positions from sitting to standing to walking, etc. This is completely normal and actually strongly recommended that you do make an effort to move around (within reason) after surgery.

You should expect to put about 50% of the normal amount of weight on your operative leg after surgery with the assistance of crutches unless told otherwise. If you are unsure, contact Dr. Wolff’s assistant for clarification. Please note: you should never be non-weight bearing following a hip arthroscopy. Click here for more information on post-operative crutching and videos of proper technique.

Please refer to the discharge instructions in the surgery packet. You will need to be off narcotic pain medications and be able to safely control your leg. In general, all that’s necessary is a few days for left hip surgery. For right hip surgery, this takes a bit longer (typically 10-14 days).

7-10 days after surgery.

We encourage you to call your insurance company so that you are aware of your surgery benefits. Our office will call for professional prior authorization only. Please note: the surgical facility is billed separately. We will file your claims for you and advocate on your behalf for payment from your insurance company in order to limit your personal financial obligation as much as possible. For any and all questions regarding payment of surgery please contact Dr. Wolff’s billing office. If you do not already have this contact information, please contact Dr. Wolff’s assistant so that she can ensure your information is accurate and accessible to the billing office prior to your call so that they may be prepared to speak with you.
***Please note: the professional fees and facility fees for surgery are billed separately. Please be sure to contact the facility where your surgery will be performed for any questions or concerns regarding financial obligations for facility fees.

The questionnaire is an important part of helping track not only your outcome, but that of all of Dr. Wolff’s patients. It is important that we know how you are doing so we can do the right thing for you and for all of our future patients. We won’t bother you too much though. It should take less than 10 minutes and you will only be asked to fill it out once per year. It’s very important. If you have any questions, please contact Dr. Wolff’s Research Assistant.

Physical Therapy FAQs

Appropriate physical therapy is important to the success of your surgery. Physical therapy can be started after your first post-op visit with Dr. Wolff, unless otherwise told. Please refer to your surgery packet for more detailed instructions on post-op physical therapy. Click Here for more information about physical therapy, including links to our post-op physical therapy protocols.

You may start physical therapy within a few days to a week after surgery. His protocol is very specific to you but can be followed by any skilled and conscientious physical therapist. So if you have a good PT that you trust, you probably will want to stick with them. Dr. Wolff and his team are familiar with and have worked with many therapists throughout the country and indeed the world. It is very likely that we will have an excellent recommendation for you.

Please note: The most important part of therapy is that you are compliant with your protocol and your restrictions. If all else fails, keep it simple: IF IT HURTS, DON’T DO IT! Dr. Wolff much prefers that you use a therapist that is convenient for you so that you will be able to easily and regularly attend sessions. Make sure to find a therapist that will follow Dr. Wolff’s protocol and not attempt to stray away without first consulting with Dr. Wolff. Dr. Wolff is always willing to speak with any therapist. If they have any questions please give them our contact information so we can make sure we’re all on the same page!

Post Op Medical Equipment FAQs

The Game Ready Ice/Compression machines are provided through a separate company called WRS Group. They can be contacted here. Instructions for use of the devices should be given to you at the time of device delivery. All financial and coordination of delivery questions should be directed to them.

Dr. Wolff will indicate to his medical assistant at the time of scheduling surgery which devices are applicable to you. If you received the packet in person, his medical assistant will have crossed off items that are not applicable and circled ones that are applicable. If they are emailed to you, the email containing the attachments for the surgery packet should include a list of items pertinent to your surgery.

The only thing that you absolutely will need is crutches (or a walker if that is your preference). However, most patients find an ice machine like the Game Ready or the Proventus wrap to be highly beneficial. You may use a large icepack instead of the ice machine or the wrap, but most patients find one or both of these to be more convenient and effective. Icing is most helpful in the first few days after surgery. Also, when you become active during your recovery period and feel sore post-activity – Ice! It is not mandatory but will help your pain and inflammation levels stay low.

You will need to cover as much of the surgical area as possible (including the groin) – the more you cover, the better. Ice as much as possible for 20-30 minutes on and 20-30 minutes off–particularly for the first few days. But don’t stress. There is no real magic to this. If it feels good, do it. If you get sick of it, take a break.