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Arthroscopic surgery was popularized in the 80's for treatment of many disorders of the knee and shoulder. Surgeons and patients have had great success treating rotator cuff tears and labral tears of the shoulder and ACL (anterior cruciate ligament) and meniscal tears of the knee with this technology. Recovery is dramatically faster than with open procedures and long-term results have been excellent.
Arthroscopic surgery utilizes a fiber-optic camera attached to a narrow probe, which is placed into the joint. Specially designed equipment is then placed into the joint through very small incisions to treat diseased cartilaginous and ligamentous tissues. This technology has been recently applied to the treatment of hip disorders. In the past, problems deep within the hip joint such as (labral) cartilage tears and loose bodies were very difficult to treat because they required large incisions and dislocation of the hip. Due to the delicate blood supply to the head of the femur, open surgery can lead to catastrophic complications with eventual collapse and destruction of the hip joint.
Hip arthroscopy allows the surgeon to gain access to the inside of the hip joint with very little violation of healthy tissue. The surgeon is able to visualize the acetabulum (socket) and labrum (fibro-cartilage rim) as well as the articular (joint) cartilage. Diseases such as loose bodies, infection, labral tears, and cartilage injures can be successfully treated with this new technique. Hip arthroscopy is not useful in treatment of advanced cases of arthritis; in general, joint replacement yields better results in patients with degenerative joint disease (arthritis).
Recovery and rehabilitation following hip arthroscopy is often very rapid. Patients leave the hospital the same day and may be given crutches for assistance. They quickly are able to walk without any assistance and may return to office-work in a few days. Physical therapy is started within the first week and many patients return to sporting activities in about three weeks.
Watch this video of Dr. Nasar describing Hip Arthroscopy. Click Here To Watch The Video
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