Hip Arthroscopy Specialist

What is hip arthroscopy?

Hip arthroscopy is a type of minimally invasive orthopedic surgery that allows your NASA Bone & Joint Specialists provider to view your hip joint without making a large incision. During hip arthroscopy, your surgeon inserts a thin tube with a camera on the end, known as an arthroscope, into a small incision. The camera sends images to a video monitor that your surgeon uses to guide treatment.

Hip arthroscopy is much quicker than traditional hip surgery. It also boasts faster recovery times, fewer complications, and less joint stiffness.

Why would I need hip arthroscopy?

At NASA Bone & Joint Specialists, the team usually recommends hip arthroscopy to diagnose and treat painful hip conditions that don’t respond to conservative treatments such as rest, ice, and physical therapy.
The team regularly uses hip arthroscopy to treat problems that damage the articular cartilage, labrum, or other soft tissues that surround and support your hip joint. Many times, severe hip pain is the result of an accident or sports-related injury. However, other factors may also cause chronic hip pain, including:

• Dysplasia
  
• Snapping hip syndrome
  
• Synovitis
  
• Hip joint infection
  
  

You might also benefit from arthroscopy if you have a femoroacetabular impingement (FAI). FAI is a disorder that causes bone spurs to develop on your hip. Over time, these spurs damage the soft tissues in your hip, leading to pain and instability.

Am I a candidate for hip arthroscopy?

To determine if you’re a candidate for hip arthroscopy, the NASA Bone & Joint Specialists team reviews your medical history, performs a physical exam, and takes a series of X-rays to get a closer look at the inner structures of your hip. If you have certain health problems, such as heart disease or diabetes, they might also recommend additional tests prior to surgery.

What happens during hip arthroscopy?

On the day of your hip arthroscopy, your surgeon administers general anesthesia, putting you to sleep. Once the anesthesia sets in, your surgeon makes a small incision in the front of your hip and carefully guides the arthroscope through your muscle and other soft tissue to access your hip joint.

After identifying the source of your discomfort, your surgeon uses a series of small surgical tools to make repairs. This might include shaving off bone spurs or repairing torn cartilage. The length of your operation depends on the type and severity of your injury.

If chronic hip pain is preventing you from participating in your favorite activities, you may benefit from hip arthroscopy. Request your appointment at NASA Bone & Joint Specialists by clicking the online booking tool or calling the office today.