Provider List

2900 12th Avenue North #140W & #100E
Billings, MT 59101
(406) 237-5050

What is an Arthroscope

An arthroscope is a small flexible tool with a camera attached to the end that can be inserted through a small incision so the surgeon can see inside and around the hip joint. Using an arthroscope, your surgeon will be able to look on a screen at the joint and surgical instruments so that the procedure can be conducted without any large incisions. When Procedure is Used While doctors might use hip arthroscopy only to perform an examination in and around the joint, they can also use arthroscopy to fix hip impingement, repair tears around the outside of the hip socket, and remove damaged cartilage.

During Surgery

You will either receive regional anesthesia and a mild sedative, or you may be given a general anesthesia to relax your muscles, prevent pain, and help you fall asleep. The doctor will then utilize a small incision to insert a fiber optic camera into your hip joint so that images from the camera can appear on a screen. Such images will help your surgeon diagnose problems, and, if necessary, make additional small incisions through which to remove damaged tissue and repair parts of the joint.

Risks

The risk of complications is very low. However, potential risks might include

• allergic reactions to medications
• nerve damage
• bleeding or blood clots
• infection
• injury to surrounding tissues
• numbness

Benefits

• injury diagnosis
• elimination or decrease of pain
• Improvement in hip function
• increase in strength