Hip Arthroscopy (Hip Endoscopy)

What is Hip Arthroscopy?

Hip arthroscopy is usually a minimally invasive procedure, often referred to by doctors as "keyhole surgery." The surgical area is accessed through small skin incisions and not through open access as in conventional surgery. The surgeon can use these small skin incisions to insert special instruments such as cameras, for example, with the help of tiny tubes, into the body for examining the patient.

What is the Procedure of Hip Joint Arthroscopy?

Usually, the patient lies on the back or the side. In some cases, the examination area is stretched again to expand the hip joint space for a better overview. With an attached camera, the surgeon can project the examination area directly onto a monitor; the instruments are remotely guided. The treatment can take place under partial or general anesthesia.

When is a Hip Joint Arthroscopy Useful?

It always depends on the diagnosis when a hip joint arthroscopy is carried out, but its indications are becoming more and more widespread. If, for example, there are specific cartilage problems such as a labrum defect, an arthroscopy in which damaged parts can be directly resected, and healthy parts can be sutured may be useful. An endoscopy can also be considered in cases of impingement syndrome, where the joint space narrows, in cases of inflammation, osteoarthritis, exposed joint surfaces, and cartilage damage. Even transplantation of cartilage in the hip joint can be carried out in a minimally invasive way.

Advantages and Disadvantages

The advantages are obvious: the body is less stressed, smaller scars result, the patient's recovery time is shorter as the surgery time also is. Especially, people who do a lot of sports benefit from this treatment. The smaller incisions make it possible to traumatize much less peripheral tissue so that the patient can recover much faster and start doing sports much earlier. It does not mean that patients can resume exercise immediately after such surgeries - recovery phases are also indicated here, but they are much shorter compared to open surgery. Because the scars are minimal and heal quite well after a while, a cosmetic advantage can also be seen here.

Hip arthroscopy is also a surgical procedure, which means that undesirable side effects and injuries can occur during the surgery, just as they can occur during other operations. These include wound healing disorders, hematomas, infections, and injuries to vessels, nerves, or tissue in the surrounding area. Generally, these risks are assessed as rather low, so that the patient does not have to worry too much. However, they must always be mentioned and discussed to protect the patient and the practitioner.

What Happens After  Hip Arthroscopy?

The follow-up treatment of an arthroscopy always depends on the patient, the patient's age, the general state of health, and the type and extent of the surgical procedure. Generally, only a very short hospital stay is indicated. In some cases, a walking aid can be prescribed for sufficient protection to reduce the load. The movement and load - especially in patients who are active in sports - generally starts directly postoperatively, physiotherapy is therefore mandatory. Physiotherapy includes coordination exercises and exercises for muscle and movement development.

Which Doctors and Clinics are Hip Arthroscopy Specialists?

Due to the anatomy of the hip as a so-called ball and socket joint, hip arthroscopy is an extremely complicated procedure that only specialists should use. These can be surgeons or orthopedic surgeons, but clinics and specialized centers are also the first contact point for patients with hip problems. In hip centers, for example, many arthroscopies are carried out every year, so it can be assumed that the doctors in such centers have a great deal of experience and that the patients are in safe hands.

Author:

PRIMO MEDICO Editors | Created on 11 June 2017 | Last updated 27 February 2020

Sources:

Orthopädie und Unfallchirurgie, Niethard, Fritz U.; Pfeil, Joachim; Biberthaler, Peter, Duale Reihe, 2014, 7. Auflage