WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW: What do I need to know about a hip arthroscopy? Hip arthroscopy is a procedure to examine or treat your damaged or diseased hip joint. How can I prepare for a hip arthroscopy? Your healthcare provider will talk to you about how to prepare for your procedure. He may tell you not to eat or drink anything after midnight on the day of your procedure. He will tell you what medicines to take or not take on the day of your procedure. What will happen during a hip arthroscopy? You will receive medicine to keep you asleep or numb from the waist down during your procedure. The affected hip and leg will be placed in traction. Traction pulls your hip away from its socket so your healthcare provider can clearly see your hip joint. Your healthcare provider will make a small incision in your hip, and place the arthroscope through the incision. An arthroscope is a flexible tube with a small camera on the end. Other tools may be inserted in separate small incisions to treat your hip problem. The incisions will be closed with stitches and covered with a bandage. You may be able to go home the same day of your procedure. What are the risks of a hip arthroscopy? You may bleed more than expected or get an infection. The traction used during your procedure may cause temporary numbness in your hip or leg. Your hip joint, nerves, and blood vessels may be injured during the procedure. You may get a blood clot in your leg. This may become life-threatening. |