Dr Christoforetti is an active member of the international community of hip arthroscopy specialists seeking to help patients with athletic related hip pain.  As you may be traveling from a distance to visit us in Pittsburgh, please take time to review this page and call ahead with any questions. 

This rapidly growing field can lead patients to confusion and contradictory advice from well meaning physicians.  There truly is no substitute for a personal visit.

Specific postoperative guidelines for those scheduled for hip arthroscopy and their caregiver are available on this site. 

Click here or follow link on the left to "Postoperative Instructions."

General Information about hip arthroscopy:

Hip Arthroscopy is NOT generally effective for delaying hip replacement in patients with advanced joint degeneration.

Ideal Candidates:

Patients with minimal hip cartilage wear (arthritis) on x-ray and suffer from on of the following conditions:

     1)  Catching, locking or pain in the hip joint due to loose bodies

     2)  MRI diagnosed labrum cartilage tears

     3)  Femoroacetabular Impingement

     4)  Trochanteric bursitis that persists despite conservative therapy

POTENTIAL COMPLICATIONS FROM ARTHROSCOPIC HIP SURGERY

Although the surgical technique is minimally invasive, there are unique risks that patients must understand prior to choosing surgical treatment.  In general, a patient should have failed all reasonable non-operative treatments prior to embarking upon any surgical procedure. 

These risks are EXTREMELY uncommon and the vast majority of patients do not experience difficulties. 

This is NOT an exhaustive list of potential complications.

1) The hip is a tight, "ball and socket" joint.  Traction of must be applied to both legs in order to make room for the arthroscopic instruments.  This can create temporary or permanent "stretch" injury to the nerves that control the genitals, thigh, leg and foot.

2)  The blood supply of the ball portion (femoral head) is unique and if disrupted by surgery bone death and collapse of the ball could lead to severe arthritis.

3)  Blood clots can form in the legs and if they migrate to the lungs (embolus) they can cause death

4)  Stiffness, instability and infection of the hip joint can occur postoperatively requiring further surgery.

5)  If labral repair is performed, failure to heal, irritation by suture material, or recurrent tearing can occur requiring further surgery.