According to the Mayo Clinic, arthroscopy is used by doctors in the diagnosis and treatment of a number of conditions related to the joints, most frequently those impacting the knee, elbow, ankle shoulder and hip. Arthroscopy surgery is commonly recommended for people who have chronic hip pain.
Effects
An arthroscope is made up of a systematic lens and fiber optics to provide light to the area being examined or treated. With just a miniscule incision, the surgeon can insert a pencil-thin viewing device that is connected to the arthroscope into the hip joint. The picture is displayed on large monitor so the surgeon can see precisely where to go to repair a specific hip problem.
Preparation
Prior to arthroscopy, the patient will be given intravenous (IV) antibiotics to protect against infection and also receive anesthesia. The patient is commonly placed in traction in the operating room in order to slightly pull the hip apart to allow for the safe insertion of instruments into the joint without causing harm to the cartilage.
Surgery
Special instruments are used to create a pathway through the tissues into the hip joint. Pumping equipment saturates the joint with saline. Your surgeon may make a number of small incisions at various points around the hip joint necessary for repair. Once the procedure is finished the hip joint is flushed out with a sterile liquid and local anesthetics may be injected into the joint to lessen pain. The surgery generally takes less than two hours to complete. Arthroscopy is usually a same day procedure that doesn't require an overnight hospital stay.
Risks
Experts at the Mayo Clinic say the chance of problems developing as a result of arthroscopy is less than 2 percent. Although rare, complications include blood vessel or nerve damage around the hip joint and injury to the bone, cartilage or ligament from placing and moving surgical instruments within the restricted confines of the joint.
Recovery
Following a few days of rest, exercise is encouraged following arthroscopy to help accelerate the recovery process. You may initially use crutches to assist in your mobility. Stitches are usually removed about one week following arthroscopy. There should be substantial improvement in hip pain now that the inflamed tissues and damaging fluids have been eradicated. It will take several weeks to completely recover from hip arthroscopy.
Outlook
As you continue to recover from hip arthroscopy, both pool and land exercises can help strengthen and make joint muscles more flexible. Although additional surgery may be necessary at some point in the future, hip arthroscopy can prolong the need for further operations.
