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Home > Specialties > Hip > Hip Arthroscopy

What is Hip Arthroscopy?

Hip Arthropscopy is a minimally invasive outpatient procedure that uses small incisions and pencil -sized surgical instruments to diagnose and treat certain traumatic and atraumatic problems of the hip. The procedure is similar to knee arthroscopy. A small camera is placed into the hip joint through a 1/4-inch incision. This allows the surgeon to visualize the hip surface. A second small incision allows other surgical instruments to be placed into the joint.

What is the Recovery Time from Hip Arthroscopy?

Patients undergoing hip arthroscopy go home the same day the surgery is performed. They are discharged with crutches to aid initial ambulation, but they can place as much weight as they can tolerate on the affected hip. Because sterile water is used to distend the hip capsule during the procedure, some postoperative pain is to be expected. Patients are sent home with prescription pain medication to help with this pain which should last only a few days. Generally, patients can discard their crutches within a few days of surgery and may return to work within a week or as the pain allows.