Hip Arthroscopy

Hip arthroscopy is a form of arthritis of the hip which causes a loss of this cartilage surrounding the hip joints and ligaments. The arthritis buildup causes changes in the joint fluid in and around the joints, which ultimately leads to an irritation to the lining around the joints. The reaction from this process causes more inflammation and more fraying which is a vicious cycle. The pain most people encounter with this condition is much different than most joint pain problems with one major issue being that it can keep someone from sleeping through the night.

Until recently the treatment options for hip pain were somewhat limited and the possibility of a hip replacement was virtually guaranteed. Even though the techniques in use today have improved the lives of a great many people, there are no long term guarantees and obsolescence is inevitable with every implant. No matter how good the circumstances may be or how well someone may seem to recover from the procedures, the implant will simply wear out and will need to be replaced.

Until a more suitable material can be created, hip arthroscopy may postpone some of the damage by helping to break the vicious cycle caused by the arthritis. One of the biggest benefits of the hip arthroscopy is that it has a much simpler process of recovery as compared to other process such as open hip surgery. Almost immediately after a surgical procedure, a person can work on regaining motion around the joint by doing gentle strengthening exercises on a regular basis. Many times a patient will work with a physical therapist for assistance with these exercises and stretches to insure that they are being done properly which could speed up the recovery process.

No procedure is without some level of risk and hip arthroscopy is no exception. One of the more common risks has to do with injury to the articular cartilage of the hip by the instruments used to perform the arthroscopy procedure. Although it is possible for this to happen with arthroscopy of any joint, the possibility of it happening with hip arthroscopy is much greater due to the joint being "tight" and difficult to access. The upside is that when an injury does occur, it is almost always minor and inconsequential. Now days with more modern instrumentation being used, and the experience levels of surgeons growing, the complication rate of this procedure is much lower.