Hip arthroscopy is a key-hole surgical technique which involves small incisions being made at the top if the leg, to allow a camera to be inserted into the hip joint.
The advances in key-hole hip surgery in recent years mean it is now more common to use this type of procedure as an intervention for some hip problems.
The Horder Centre can use the procedure to treat a wide range of ailments, namely Impingement of the hip. This occurs in teenagers or young adults, and is due to a mismatch between the shape of the hip ball and socket.
This irregularity leads to high pressure in the joint and leads to cartilage damage. Sufferers will often experience groin pain on rotation of the hip, and exercise might be limited as a result. Furthermore, patients commonly get diagnosed with recurrent groin strains.
The cartilage rim of the socket may be torn and may require trimming or repairing. Surgeons can remove the loose bodies and smooth down any irregularity in the shape of the femoral neck, which reduces subsequent impingement. This procedure is less invasive than normal surgery, and may reduce the chances of developing osteoarthritis
The procedure can be done in a day and pain is not usually severe. A couple of days after the procedure pain normally fades away, but it can take patients 2-3 months to return to full sports and running. Most patients make a full recovery, unless there is an established osteoarthritis in the joint.
