Hip arthroscopy

At CPH Privathospital we can offer you to be operated on by one of the best orthopaedic surgeons in Denmark within hip arthroscopies. Read more about our keyhole surgery of the hip and when we recommend hip arthroscopies.

What is a hip arthroscopy?

A hip arthroscopy is a keyhole surgery of the hip joint. You can suffer from various conditions in the hip that cause symptoms. Some of these symptoms can be relieved by keyhole surgery in the hip – a so-called hip arthroscopy. The word arthroscopy means to “look into a joint”. It is an examination where a narrow arthroscope 4–5 mm in diameter is inserted into one of the body’s joints, in this case the hip joint.

Using the arthroscopy, the interior of the joint can be inspected and any damage to ligaments, labrum, joint capsule, synovial membrane and cartilage can be assessed. At the same time, any damage to the labrum can be operated on, the joint can be cleaned, bony prominences can be smoothed and loose bodies (joint mice) in the hip can be removed in connection with the arthroscopy.

When do we offer to perform a hip arthroscopy?

We often try to treat the symptoms/pain from the hip region without surgery, i.e. with exercise or physiotherapy. If this has no effect, you will be examined further by one of our orthopaedic surgeons. This will often involve an MRI scan of the hip joint with injection of contrast. A hip arthroscopy is primarily offered to patients with hip pain caused by changes inside the joint itself and who do not have pronounced osteoarthritis in the hip.

This applies, for example, to:

• Impingement in the hip joint
• Osteoarthritis
• Labral tears
• Synovial irritation from a labral injury
• Cartilage damage, possibly loose bodies in the joint

If the examination confirms one of the above diagnoses, you will be offered a hip arthroscopy, provided the orthopaedic surgeon judges that you can be helped by keyhole surgery with 80% certainty.

Keyhole surgery of the hip is a relatively new surgical method, and therefore the long-term effect is not yet known. Patients without osteoarthritis with labral tears or loose bodies often get a very good result and more than 80% of patients experience that the operation has helped.

The operation

An arthroscopic examination/hip arthroscopy is an outpatient operation and is performed under general anaesthesia. The patient can usually be sent home a few hours after the operation. Some patients have joints that are very sensitive to procedures. These patients may react with unusual pain after the operation. The condition cannot be predicted, and must be treated with pain-relieving medication for some time after the operation. Complications from arthroscopic examination of the hip joint are often related to traction applied to the hip joint during the operation. This can cause temporary damage to nerves to the lower extremity. Very rarely, either infection or thrombophlebitis can occur, which is usually treated with good results when intervened in a timely manner.

After the operation

After a hip arthroscopy, you may as a starting point bear full weight on the leg and move the leg freely after the operation. You will be informed if there are special circumstances that apply to you. However, we recommend that you take it easy for the first few days after the operation to minimise the risk of swelling and pain. If swelling does occur, we recommend that you rest – possibly with an ice pack on. You will be guided in relevant exercises after the operation. 

How long is one on sick leave?

Sick leave for typically 4–8 weeks is most often necessary. If you have a more physically demanding job, sick leave for several months may be necessary.