Procedure

Minimally invasive hip surgery is an alternate to the traditional open hip surgery. The surgery is usually an outpatient procedure performed under spinal or general anesthesia. You will be prepped for surgery and a tourniquet applied to your upper thigh to reduce blood loss. Your surgeon will make one to two incisions of about 2 inches on the groin and buttocks.

The surgery may be performed with the help of X-ray guidance or use of an arthroscope. The camera attached to the arthroscope provides a clear view of the hip joint, and allows your surgeon to repair and treat the hip problem. The arthroscope is inserted through one incision and special surgical tools inserted through the other incisions. Your leg may be placed in traction and depending on your hip problem, your surgeon may

• Replace the damaged cartilage and bone with artificial metal and plastic components (total hip replacement)
• Trim extra bone growth
• Repair or trim off torn cartilage
• Remove inflamed tissue

Once the repair is complete, the instruments are removed and incisions are closed.