The role of arthroscopy in resurfacing arthroplasty of the hip

Abstract

Arthroscopy of the hip joint has become a well-established procedure in treating many intra- and extra-articular disorders around the hip. As surgeons improve their expertise, indications for hip arthroscopy also expand. Persistent pain after joint replacement can be a diagnostic and therapeutic challenge, especially if the results of investigations performed to rule out loosening and infection are negative. Arthroscopy has previously proved to be a useful diagnostic and therapeutic tool in such cases in the knee and the shoulder. We report on the use of hip arthroscopy in a patient with persistent pain after resurfacing arthroplasty, identifying loosening of the acetabular component. It was perhaps the only way to identify component micromovement in the background of all other investigations' results being normal or indeterminate. Arthroscopy of the hip in a patient with resurfacing arthroplasty is technically safe to perform and allows good visualization of the component surfaces and synovium, and the dynamic component of arthroscopy enables the surgeon to assess component loosening. In conclusion, we have found arthroscopy to be an extremely valuable technique for the evaluation of our patient with a persistently painful resurfacing arthroplasty.