Hip Arthroscopy Specialist
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Joe Cooper, MD
Orthopedics & Sports Medicine located in Beverly Hills, Los Angeles, CA & Brentwood, CA
Hip arthroscopy is a unique procedure to view and treat the inside of your hip joint. Very few orthopedic surgeons perform hip arthroscopy because it requires highly specialized training, but skilled orthopedic surgeon, Dr. Cooper, at Joe Cooper, MD, has the advanced fellowship training needed to successfully perform this procedure for his patients. Make an appointment in Los Angeles, California, by calling the Beverly Hills or Brentwood office, or use the online scheduling link to book your consultation now.
Hip Arthroscopy Q & A
What is hip arthroscopy?
Hip arthroscopy is a minimally invasive procedure in which Dr. Cooper examines, diagnoses, and treats problems within your hip joint using an arthroscope — an ultrathin tube with a miniature fiber-optic camera and built-in light source.
The arthroscopic approach allows Dr. Cooper to see the inside of your hip joint in extreme detail. With arthroscopy, he can see problems that may not show up well on an MRI, such as cartilage damage or issues within the joint capsule. He can also treat problems during the procedure.
What conditions does hip arthroscopy diagnose and treat?
Hip arthroscopy can diagnose and treat many different conditions, including:
- Loose bodies: Bone and cartilage fragments
- Hip dysplasia
- Femoroacetabular impingement (FAI)
- Septic arthritis
- Hip labrum tears
- Ligament tears
- Tendon tears
- Muscle tears
- Snapping hip
- Bursitis
- Synovitis
- Pediatric hip disorders
- Cartilage defects
- Sciatic nerve pain
- Hamstring disorders
- Fractures
In general, Dr. Cooper only recommends hip arthroscopy as a treatment if your condition doesn't improve with nonsurgical care.
What happens in a hip arthroscopy?
In a hip arthroscopy, Dr. Cooper places the arthroscope into your joint through a very small hip-area puncture. The arthroscope sends live video of your joint to a monitor, where Dr. Cooper can carefully examine and diagnose problems.
If you need any type of repairs within your hip, for example, repair of a labrum tear or restoration of a misshapen joint, Dr. Cooper creates additional tiny punctures to insert specialized surgical tools and perform those repairs.
What kind of anesthesia do I need for a hip arthroscopy?
For a hip arthroscopy, you generally receive spinal anesthesia with a hip-area block, which avoids general anesthesia. With this approach, you have less pain and won't need as much narcotic pain medicine as you would with a general anesthesia procedure.
You'll be less tired and can thus feel more like yourself sooner than you would with general anesthesia.
What happens after a hip arthroscopy?
Hip arthroscopy rarely causes complications. It's usually a same-day procedure, so you go home using crutches. Dr. Cooper designs a personalized rehabilitation plan to help you safely reclaim your strength and mobility after the procedure.
Athletes can often resume their sport in 6-8 months, but your exact recovery time varies with the condition and extent of the repair.
How does a hip arthroscopy compare to traditional hip surgery?
Hip arthroscopy offers many advantages, including:
- Less tissue damage
- Less bleeding
- Less pain
- Smaller incisions
- Reduced scarring
- Faster recovery and return to normal activities
A hip arthroscopy can give you freedom from pain and improved function without major surgery. Learn more about how hip arthroscopy can help you by calling Joe Cooper, MD, or click on the provided link now.
