What Is a Hip Arthroscopy?
A hip arthroscopy is a minimally invasive surgery that treats hip conditions. During surgery, your surgeon makes a small incision in your hip. They insert a small camera called an arthroscope into your joint. The camera projects an image of the inside of your hip onto a screen. Your surgeon looks for damage and assesses your injury or condition.
Your surgeon may make another small incision for small surgical instruments. They use the instruments for several reasons:
-
Reshape the bones in your hip joint
-
Remove torn cartilage, excess bone growth, or inflamed tissue
-
Repair fractures or tears
Hip Arthroscopy Surgeons Near Me
2 Resulting Health Care Providers
Locations
Displaying 1 of 1 locations
University Orthopaedic Center
(Located in Salt Lake City)
801-587-7109590 Wakara Way
Salt Lake City, UT 84108
What Does Hip Arthroscopy Treat?
Your health care provider may recommend an arthroscopy if treatments like rest, medication, and physical therapy haven't worked. An arthroscopy treats several conditions:
- Pain, swelling, or stiffness
- Torn cartilage or ligaments
- Torn labrum (lining of the hip socket)
- Bone spurs
- Arthritis
- Hip fractures
Hip Arthroscopy Surgery: What to Expect
On the day of your procedure, you choose to receive either general or regional anesthesia:
-
General anesthesia means you will be asleep during the procedure.
-
Regional anesthesia means you will be awake but numb from the waist down. You will not feel any pain.
Talk to your doctor about what option is best for you.
Hip Arthroscopy Procedure
Your surgeon makes a small incision. They pump a sterile fluid into the joint to expand the area. Your surgeon inserts the arthroscope and uses it to evaluate your hip joint.
After your surgeon has looked at your joint, they will treat the problem. Once the procedure is finished, they close the incision with one or two stitches or small bandages.
How Long Does Hip Arthroscopy Take?
Most hip arthroscopy procedures take around 90 minutes.
Hip Arthroscopy Recovery
Recovery from a hip arthroscopy is much faster than other types of hip surgery. There is also a smaller risk of infection and less scarring.
You should be able to return home a few hours after your procedure. There are a few things you can do to help recovery go smoothly:
- Plan on using crutches for one to two weeks after your surgery to avoid putting too much weight on your joint.
- Use the pain medication your provider prescribes as needed during your recovery.
- Rest, ice, and elevate your leg to help manage any pain or swelling.
- Avoid swimming or taking a bath for two weeks to prevent infection in the incision sites.
- Eat a healthy diet and avoid smoking to make sure your body is able to recover as quickly as possible.
- Do physical therapy exercises to help you restore mobility and strength in your hip.
Everyone’s recovery process is different. Call your provider if you experience severe pain, redness, or fever. We are here to answer any questions you have about your surgery, medications, or recovery.
Walking after Hip Arthroscopy
Your surgeon will let you know how soon you can expect to walk after your surgery. Unless your surgeon tells you to avoid any weight on the hip, you will not damage the surgery by walking. Most patients begin walking as soon as they feel able. It's a good idea to use crutches if you are limping.
Follow-Up Appointment
You will have multiple follow-up visits after your surgery. Your provider will check your progress and address any concerns you have. These visits are typically spaced out over a 6-month period.
You’ll get X-rays after surgery to evaluate your joint and check for any complications. X-rays provide a baseline of what your hip looked like shortly after surgery.
Hear From Our Patients
National champion speed skater, Blair Cruikshank, started experiencing persistent, worsening hip pain that interfered with her training. After she was diagnosed with femoroacetabular impingement syndrome (FAI), she and her family sought treatment for her condition at the Hip Preservation Program. Today she is back on the ice at full speed after undergoing a successful hip arthroscopy procedure.
Next Steps
If you are suffering from hip pain or would like to be evaluated by a specialist, call 801-587-7109 to request an appointment.
You do not need a referral to see one of our hip specialists for hip pain, but your individual insurance plan may require one. Check with your insurance carrier to see what your plan requires before scheduling your appointment