Hip Arthroscopy

The hip joint is one of the largest joints in the body. It connects the leg with the structures of the pelvis and trunk. The primary function of the hip is to support the body during standing, walking, running, and other movements. Injury and disease can disrupt the function and structure of the hip, causing pain and limiting your range of motion.

NJ Spine and Ortho is proud to provide hip arthroscopy, which is a minimally invasive procedure that can help to diagnose and treat hip joint pain. Specifically, those who haven’t responded to conservative treatments may benefit from this procedure.

Understanding Your Hip

The hip is a ball-and-socket joint. The “ball” is located at the top of your leg bone (or femur). This ball fits into the socket of your pelvis bone, also known as the acetabulum. Soft tissues like cartilage and ligaments keep this joint stable and promote movement. In addition, a thick, slippery lubricant, known as synovial fluid, cushions the bones and functions to make these movements easier.

Hip joint pain occurs for a variety of reasons. As we age, wear and tear on the joint can cause the cartilage to break down, allowing our bones to rub together. Sometimes high-impact activities like running can hasten this process. Furthermore, injuries or traumas like falls can affect the structure of the hip, leading to additional pain. A hip arthroscopy can not only diagnose the cause of your hip pain, but it can also help to relieve it.

What is a Hip Arthroscopy?

During a hip arthroscopy procedure, an orthopedic surgeon inserts a tiny camera, known as an arthroscope, into the affected area. The camera displays pictures on a nearby screen to give the surgeon a better visualization of the hip joint and its network of surrounding tissues.

During this procedure, your leg will be secured using a traction table, so that the surgeon will have better access to your hip joint. Likewise, your surgeon will most likely use general anesthesia to ensure a successful procedure. Using a small incision, your doctor will then insert the arthroscope and evaluate your joint.

The surgeon will reach a diagnosis using the images from the arthroscope. Then, other tiny instruments may be used to surgically repair the damaged part of the hip. Sometimes the surgeon will need to make one or two more small incisions during the operation. Since there are different treatments based on the condition of your hip, the length of the procedure varies.

After surgically repairing the area, the surgeon with stitch the incision(s) and apply dressings.

What Conditions are Treated with a Hip Arthroscopy?

Orthopedists use this procedure to treat a variety of hip problems, including:

• Femoroacetabular Impingement (FAI): A condition in which bony overgrowths, known as bone spurs, appear on the leg or hip bones. These bone spurs damage the soft tissues that support the hip. During a hip arthroscopy, your surgeon will remove these bone spurs and repair any damaged tissue.
• Torn Labrum in Hip: The labrum is a ring of cartilage that cushions the hip joint and seals the bone of your leg into the hip socket. Structural abnormalities and injuries can cause this cartilage to tear. Labral hip tear surgery involves sanding off any torn cartilage and repairing the area.
• Developmental Dysplasia of the Hip: Some people have a hip socket that is too shallow. This makes it harder for the labrum to keep the leg bone in place and can cause labral tears. During a hip arthroscopy, your surgeon will cut around the hip socket and then line up the leg bone to create a better fit. This causes less stress on the labrum.
• Snapping Hip Syndrome: Most commonly caused by tendons catching on a bony part of the hip. One often hears a “popping” or “snapping” sound when the hip is extended or flexed. Your doctor can use a hip arthroscopy to remove or repair loose bodies or fragments of the labrum. Your surgeon may also elect to cut away some of the bone to prevent further snapping.
• Hip Bursitis: A condition when a tiny sac filled with lubricating fluid becomes irritated or inflamed. This usually causes sharp or intense pain in the hip. While the need for surgery is rare, the doctor may recommend removing the inflamed bursa sac with a hip arthroscopy.