Hip Arthroscopy

Hip arthroscopy is a minimally invasive surgery used to treat hip issues. A surgeon will make a few small incisions (cuts) in the skin of your hip, and then insert a special tool called an arthroscope into your hip joint. The arthroscope includes a camera and a light that lets your surgeon find and repair damage inside your hip. They’ll also insert any other small tools they need to repair damage to your bones or connective tissues.

Surgeons use arthroscopy to treat many hip issues, including:

• Hip impingement
• Labral tears
• Damaged bone or cartilage
• Hip dysplasia
• Tendon tears
• Tendon releases (to loosen overly tight tendons)

First, your healthcare provider will usually recommend nonsurgical treatments to manage these conditions. They might have you try physical therapy or steroid injections. An arthroscopy might be a good option for you if other treatments don’t relieve your hip pain.

Most people need a few months to recover after a hip arthroscopy.

Benefits of hip arthroscopy

The incisions needed to perform a hip arthroscopy are much smaller than other forms of surgery. This makes it less stressful on your body than other procedures.

Other benefits include:

• A faster recovery time
• Less pain after the surgery
• Minimal blood loss and scarring
• A lower risk for complications compared to more invasive surgery techniques

Hip arthroscopy side effects

Hip arthroscopies are safe and effective. But like all surgeries, there’s a risk for complications, including:

• Allergic reaction to anesthesia
• Blood clots, including deep vein thrombosis (DVT)
• Infections
• Damage to surrounding tissue or nerves
• Excessive bleeding or swelling
• Numbness or tingling in your groin, thigh or foot

What happens before this procedure?

Tell your care team about all the medications you take. This includes prescriptions, over-the-counter medicine and supplements. Your surgeon will tell you if you need to stop taking anything before your surgery date.

You’ll need to fast before your procedure. Your care team will tell you when you should stop eating and drinking. You’ll probably need to avoid eating or drinking anything except water for 12 hours before surgery.

You won’t be able to drive yourself home after a hip arthroscopy. Make sure you arrange for transportation to and from your surgery appointment.

What happens during this procedure?

Your care team will give you anesthesia so you don’t feel pain during surgery. You might get regional anesthesia that numbs the area around your hip, or general anesthesia that puts you to sleep during the operation.

Your surgeon will make a few small cuts (about the size of a buttonhole) in the skin on your hip and insert the arthroscope. They’ll also insert any other tools they need to repair damaged bones or connective tissues.

Most hip arthroscopies take around 90 minutes. But the length of your surgery will depend on your unique needs.

You should be able to go home the same day as your procedure. Once you get home, you’ll need to:

• Avoid putting weight or pressure on your hip joint for around a week (including while you sleep).
• Ice and elevate the area.
• Keep the incision clean and covered.
• Take NSAIDs for pain after the procedure (your care team will tell you how to manage pain safely).
• Take showers, not baths, until the incision heals.
• Wear a brace on your hip for around three weeks.
• Use crutches for a few weeks.

Hip arthroscopy recovery

It usually takes around six weeks to recover from a hip arthroscopy. Your provider or surgeon will go over the results of your procedure with you. They’ll also give you a personalized recovery plan. A general recovery timeline might look like:

• One to two weeks before you can drive or return to work
• Two to six weeks before you can walk without crutches
• Six to 12 weeks of physical therapy to help you regain strength and mobility in your hip and leg
• Twelve weeks before it’s safe to resume intense physical activities or play sports

When should I call my healthcare provider?

Call your surgery care team right away if you experience:

• Intense pain that doesn’t get better after taking medication
• Severe bleeding at your surgery site
• Nausea and vomiting
• Signs of infection, like skin discoloration, a fever, a bad smell, or leaking pus or discharge at your surgery site