1999 Complications of arthroscopy of the hip

Description: Although arthroscopy of the hip is being carried out increasingly, little is known about the rate of associated complications. We describe a prospective study of 640 consecutive procedures in which a consistent technique was used. The overall complication rate was 1.6%. Complications, none of which was major or long-term, included transient palsy of the sciatic and femoral nerves, perineal injury, bleeding from the portal wounds, trochanteric bursitis and intra-articular breakage of the instrument. We believe that it is possible to undertake this operation safely using the technique described.
Complications of arthroscopy of the hip. Griffin DR, Villar RN. J Bone Joint Surg Br. 1999 Jul;81(4):604-6. Full text available