Hip Arthroscopy

What is hip arthroscopy, and how is it performed?

Your hips play a crucial role in the way you carry out your daily routine. Any amount of pain, especially if it is persistent, can greatly impact your quality of life.

Perhaps you have tried nonsurgical treatment options, but you need additional assistance to relieve your pain. Our board-certified orthopedic surgeons at OrthoNeuro can assist you!

We have assisted many in finding relief from hip pain. One technique used is called hip arthroscopy.

Schedule an appointment today at one of our many convenient locations throughout Greater Columbus!

Below you will find further details about this procedure, when it is recommended, and its advantages.

What Is Hip Arthroscopy?

Hip arthroscopy (scope) is a minimally invasive outpatient surgical procedure that allows your surgeon to view your hip joint by making a small incision (cut) in the skin surrounding your hip.

This technique is used to diagnose and treat a wide range of hip conditions.

This procedure can be performed under general anesthesia (while you are asleep) or with regional anesthesia (while you are awake, but your body is numb from your waist down).

When Is a Hip Arthroscopy Recommended?

Your doctor may recommend hip arthroscopy if you have a painful hip condition that has not responded to the following conservative treatments:

What Does Hip Arthroscopy Treat?

Damage to your hip joint can be the result of a sports or overuse injury. Additionally, there are other orthopedic conditions that can lead to pain and cause damage to your labrum, articular cartilage, or soft tissues surrounding your hip.

Some of the most common injuries and conditions hip arthroscopy is used to treat include:

Hip dysplasia — A condition in which your hip socket is abnormally shallow and cannot fully support your femoral head (the upper end of your femur).
Loose bodies — Fragments of bone or cartilage that have become loose and move around inside your hip joint.
Impingement — Hip impingement is a disorder in which extra bone (bone spurs) develop in your hip joint and damage the soft tissues of your hip during movement.
Snapping hip syndrome — This condition causes a tendon to rub across the outside of your joint.
Synovitis — A condition in which the tissues surrounding your hip joint become inflamed.

Who Would Make An Eligible Candidate For a Hip Arthroscopy Procedure?

You may make an eligible candidate for arthroscopic hip surgery if you have any of the conditions listed above and your hip discomfort has not responded to noninvasive treatment. You may also be a good candidate if your pain does not require a hip replacement.

To determine whether this is the right treatment option for you, your specialist will review your medical history and your diagnostic imaging. They will also perform a physical examination which may include range of motion tests.

How Is Hip Arthroscopy Performed?

During hip arthroscopy, a small camera called an arthroscope will be inserted through a small incision in your hip joint. This camera allows your surgeon to see the structures within your hip on a video monitor.

Your surgeon will then use these images as a guide while performing the procedure. Miniature surgical instruments will also be inserted through the small incisions to perform the procedure. Once complete, your surgeon will close the incisions.

The Advantages of Hip Arthroscopy

There are many advantages associated with hip arthroscopy procedures. Many hip arthroscopy patients report less pain and less joint stiffness.

Additional advantages of hip arthroscopy include the following:

Often a shorter recovery time when compared with open surgical procedures
Lower risk for complications when compared with more invasive surgical procedures
Minimal scarring
Minimal blood loss
Possibly delaying the onset of hip arthritis
Possibly delaying or eliminating the need for a hip replacement

Hip Arthroscopy Recovery

The length of your full recovery time will vary depending on the specific treatment you received during your procedure as well as your recovery goals. You can expect to use crutches for 1 to 2 weeks after your surgery.

Shortly after your surgery, you will begin physical therapy. This can help you gradually regain your strength and mobility.

You may still feel pain after your surgery, but like most people, you may notice that your pain significantly diminishes or disappears within 3 to 6 months.

Make an Appointment with an OrthoNeuro Hip Specialist Today!

If you have been experiencing chronic pain in your hip, schedule an appointment with one of our board-certified orthopedic hip specialists at OrthoNeuro. We will evaluate your unique lifestyle and goals to determine if this minimally invasive treatment would be best for you.

Most patients can be seen within 24 hours of making an appointment. Contact one of our many convenient locations throughout Columbus, OH today!

Medically reviewed by

Dr. Ryan M. Palmer, D.O.

Related Services

Hip Specialists

IF YOU HAVE SEVERE OR PERSISTENT HIP PAIN THAT INTERFERES WITH YOUR LIFE, CALL ORTHONEURO OR SCHEDULE A CONSULTATION ONLINE TODAY. OUR ORTHOPEDIC SURGEONS PROVIDE STATE-OF-THE-ART DIAGNOSIS AND PERSONALIZED TREATMENT.