Hip arthroscopy technique and complications

Hip arthroscopy is not a new technique but the seemingly limited indications and technical challenges involved have discouraged many since Burman documented his initial experiences (Burman, 1991). The current renaissance is largely driven by the expanding indications particularly in the management of femoroacetabular impingement. The figures from our own unit illustrate this well with 40% of hip arthroscopies in 1990 being purely diagnostic as compared with less than 5% at the present time. The focus of this chapter is the technical aspects of hip arthroscopy and the potential complications that can occur.