Hip Arthroscopy

Hip arthroscopy is a means of assessing and treating the hip joint using a minimally invasive technique, which enables a more rapid recovery and return to work. The technique can address intra-articular hip pathology such as labral tears, hip impingement, osteochondral defects, and loose bodies; and extra articular soft tissue pathology such as psoas tendonitis, bursitis and tendinopathy.

Labral Tear

Patients with a labral tear generally present with groin pain provoked by twisting, or impact sports. This begins to have an impact on their ability to run, but can progress to affect walking and even sleeping.

In Clinic

A consultation would involve a series of questions to assess the degree of pain and the impact it is having on your level of activity. Please be prepared for a clinical examination of your hip to help find the cause of your pain. A plain Xray picks up most hip conditions and can be carried out and read at an initial consultation. Pre- arthritic conditions are best further assessed with an MRI scan.

Surgery

If the cause of the hip pain can be addressed arthroscopically this involves admission as a daycase. You would require a general anaesthetic to allow the muscles around the hip to relax and allow the hip to sublux under traction. This enables the central compartment of the hip joint to be examined arthroscopically, and a labral tear be debrided or repaired. If the hip is impinging the causative bone can be burred back to reduce the risk of the process ongoing.

Post-operatively

Patients usually wake up with swelling in their leg from the water used to inflate the joint during the arthroscopic examination. The physiotherapist will have explained preoperatively how to manage crutches and these are usually only necessary for two days. You will also be given some exercises by the physiotherapist and you should plan to start gentle early range of movement exercises immediately to prevent stiffness due to surgical scarring.

Work

Most patients are advised to take two weeks off work. Some may work from home in the second week, but the advice is mainly to prevent early complications such as bleeding or pain provoked by attempting to return to work too early. If your work is relatively manual it would be worth discussing a staged return to work with your employer.

Activity

You should be able to manage low impact exercises such as a static bike and swimming from two weeks after surgery. By four to six weeks the hip should feel almost normal for day to day activities, and you should be able to return to the gym. You can progress on to cross training and then on to a treadmill as able; most have returned to running and team sports by three months.

Driving

You shouldn’t be driving while you are using crutches to walk, as there would be concern about your ability to manage an emergency stop. When you are able to walk independently and climb into and out of a car comfortably you should be safe to drive. But if you are planning to drive early after surgery please contact your insurer to ensure they are aware and prepared to cover you in the event of an accident.

Flying

There is a potentially increased risk of thromboembolism up to three months after surgery. The risk is dependent on length of flight, and preexisting risk factors. If you are considering a long-haul flight within six weeks of surgery it may be worth considering chemoprophylaxis to reduce the risk.

Potential complications of surgery

Surgery becomes ever safer and complications are rare, but there are still risks involved. There are general complications from any surgery such as infection, thromboembolism (blood clots), and blood vessel and nerve injury; and more specific ones to hip arthroscopy such as paraesthesia (numbness) which can affect the perineum, lateral thigh and foot.

Warning signs

Please contact my secretary or visit your GP if:
-You develop a temperature and the hip becomes increasingly painful, as there is a risk of infection.
-You develop increasing pain and swelling in your leg as there is a risk of thrombosis with lower limb surgery. 

At your outpatient appointment you will be asked to have an Xray of your hips with a calibration ball. This will demonstrate the degree of established arthritis, and calibrate the Xray so we can accurately plan your operation.

I will ask you some questions to establish how much your hip joint is affecting you lifestyle and whether this is the right time to intervene and replace your hip joint. I will also ask questions about  your medical health to calculate the likely level of risk your are exposed to by both anaesthesia and surgery. I will then examine your hip to assess how painful it is, and its current range of movement.

You will be asked to have an Xray so we can see how worn your hip is and it can be used to plan your surgery. If we agree this is the right procedure for you, you can discuss timing and the centre where you would like to have your surgery with Gill. You will be asked to attend a preadmission clinic appointment prior to surgery to check your medical health approximately two weeks before your admission.  

Most admissions are for two days. You will leave hospital with crutches, which you should use for the first 4 weeks, and then drop to one so you are walking independently by 6 weeks.

Some elderley patients with a significant preoperative disability, or who live alone, may wish to consider a rehabilitation unit after surgery.   https://www.ggroup.co.uk/the-clavadel/