What is Hip Arthroscopy?
Hip Arthroscopy is better known as 'keyhole surgery' and allows
your surgeon to look inside your hip joint through a camera
inserted through a small cut in the skin. This allows a
diagnosis of any problems, probably cartilage related, and
treatment using special designed surgical instruments - often at
the same time.
What does this involve?
Hip Arthroscopy surgery is usually done as a day case done under
local anaesthetic.
Your leg will be strapped down on the operating table with the
hip joint open to allow the arthroscope to be introduced into the
joint in the space between the ball and socket, through the cut
made around the joint. An arthroscope is a small flexible
tube about the length and width of a drinking straw which contains
a light source and a digital camera that sends images to a video
screen or your surgeon's eyepiece.
If treatment is required then another cut in the skin is made
which will allow specially designed instruments to be introduced
into the joint to do any necessary work.
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When will I recover?
As you are admitted as a day case, you would normally be able to
go home on the same day. Your Physiotherapist may give you
some exercises to help you get back to normal living.
Pain is not normally severe although it may take two to
three months to return to any sports activity.
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What risks should I know about?
Hip Arthroscopy is an extremely safe procedure but there is
always a small risk of bleeding or infection in the joint or some
damage to nerves and tendons.
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Circle care
Hip Arthroscopy can be carried out in our specialist Hip Unit at
CircleBath where England's best Surgeons have created a centre of
excellence. You can be sure of state of the art facilities
and the best possible care to get you back on your feet as soon as
possible. It is also available at other Circle Treatment
Centres.
To read more on a patient's perspective on hip surgery at
CircleBath, click
here.
To read more on the hip unit at CircleBath, click here.
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