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Hip Arthroscopy: Patient Guide to Hip Arthroscopy

Length of Stay in Hospital:

The length of stay will depend on the complexity of the surgery, your general health, the distance you may have to travel after surgery, and other factors. You should check this with your surgeon beforehand.

Anaesthetic:

The surgery is performed under general anaesthetic most commonly but not always. If a general anaesthetic is given then there may be an additional regional local anaesthetic block.

How We Perform Hip Arthroscopy:

The bones of the hip joint (the ball and socket) are separated by approximately 1cm by applying traction to the foot while wearing a special boot. By distracting the hip, this provides enough room for a small telescope (‘arthroscope’) to be introduced into the joint. Initially, air and/or fluid are injected into the hip, under x-ray guidance. Once correct placement of the instrument has been confirmed, two, three, or sometimes four small incisions are made on the side of the hip. Each of these incisions generally measures approximately 5-10 mm in length.

Through these small holes, the telescope and instruments are passed into the joint. The surgeon will then be able to visualize the hip joint, identify the problem(s), and proceed appropriately. Very occasionally it is not possible to insert an arthroscope into the hip joint. The operation duration will vary depending on the problem in the hip joint but can last from 30 minutes to 120 minutes, or even more. During the surgery, further x-rays may be taken, for example, to confirm adequate removal of bone.

At the end of the procedure medications may be injected into the hip to minimize pain after the surgery. The small holes are often closed with one to two stitches each or tapes, although some surgeons choose to let the wounds heal naturally, without closure. Finally, a further dressing is placed over the holes.

Read Detailed Outcomes of Hip Arthroscopy »