Surgeons are starting to narrow down which patients are the best ones to have a hip arthroscopy. It works well for problems inside a joint that has very little arthritis. Any loose pieces of bone or cartilage can be removed with a hip arthroscopy. Tears of the cartilage called the labrum can be identified and repaired.

Other hip conditions investigated and treated arthroscopically include synovial problems, bone lesions, and septic or infectious arthritis. In the future, we may expect to see even more conditions diagnosed and treated arthroscopically.

Research will help show which patients have a good or poor response to this procedure. Patients can be chosen more carefully for a successful outcome.

It may be best for you to start by making an appointment with an orthopedic surgeon. Since some conditions are clearly identified with a physical exam or seen on X-ray, arthroscopy may not be needed at all.