Hip Arthroscopy

Hip Arthroscopy at UVM Health

Hip arthroscopy is a minimally invasive outpatient procedure used to diagnose and treat certain hip conditions. University of Vermont Health is home to experts with fellowship training in this advanced procedure, which uses small incisions and surgical tools to reshape your bones and treat labral tears.

You benefit from our team-based, compassionate approach to care. We spend time listening to your concerns and understanding your treatment goals so we can create a personalized, effective care plan. When you choose our team, you have access to a range of treatments designed to help you move more easily — and improve your quality of life.

A medical provider points to a model of a hip.

Why Choose UVM Health?

As one of the leading orthopedic programs in the region, we offer:

Skill and experience: UVM Health surgeons perform some of the highest volumes of hip arthroscopies in Vermont and northern New York. When you come to our team, you are choosing experienced specialists.
Advanced training: Trust your care to surgeons who have undergone rigorous training. Our specialists have completed fellowship training in hip arthroscopy at one of the top programs in the country. This expertise enables us to bring you the most advanced level of care.
Research emphasis: As part of a health system anchored by an academic medical center, our physicians are active researchers, many of whom are training the next generation of experts. This involvement in teaching and training others demands that we stay up to date on the most current effective treatments, continually learning and bringing you new therapies.

Conditions We Treat with Hip Arthroscopy

Hip arthroscopy can help us diagnose and treat several conditions, including:

Hip impingement and labral tears: Hip arthroscopy is most often used to treat hip impingement and labral tears. Hip impingement occurs when areas of extra bone in the socket or ball of the hip pinch against each other, leading to groin pain with certain movements. Impingement can damage the labrum, an important structure involved in protecting your hip cartilage.
Traumatic injuries: Some traumatic injuries may leave bone fragments or damaged soft tissue in your hip joint. Our surgeons may use hip arthroscopy to remove injured tissue and bone fragments so you can heal.

What to Expect During Minimally Invasive Hip Arthroscopy

Your surgeon will give you specific instructions to prepare for hip arthroscopy. You may need to stop taking certain medications, such as blood thinners, for a brief period before the procedure.

During a hip arthroscopy, your surgeon:

Makes a few small incisions over your hip
Inserts surgical instruments and a scope with a camera and a light into your hip joint
Reshapes your bones to treat impingement
Repairs your labrum, if needed

You return home the same day as your procedure. Your care team will give you instructions, including avoiding weight-bearing activity, to help you avoid injury and heal faster. You may work with a physical therapist to help increase your strength and range of motion.