Hip arthroscopy and the surgical drapes applied. The next step is to insert a fine needle under x-ray guidance into the hip joint. This breaks the 'suction seal' of the joint and allows further distraction if necessary (see fig 4). The surgeon wishes to see the ball move out the socket by approximately 1 cm, so that access to the hip joint can be achieved with minimal risk of damage to the joint surfaces. Most surgeons will inject fluid into the joint at this stage, again to ensure that there is enough space between the ball and socket for safe instrument access.
Hip arthroscopy 1%, the risk of infection after hip arthroscopy always present. Development of blood clots (deep-vein thrombosis) is also a risk, probably created by the slowing of blood flow in the veins as a result of reduced mobility. Damage to nerves around the hip joint can occur, sometimes because of direct damage with the surgical instruments, or as a result of the traction needed to gain access to the joint. For this reason, surgeons prefer to apply as little traction as possible, for as short a time as possible, in order to gain safe access to the joint. The most common