Hip arthroscopy in athletes

Arthroscopy has defined numerous elusive causes of disabling hip pain. In the past, athletes were resigned to living within the constraints of their symptoms, often relinquishing their competitive athletic careers. The most common lesions include labral pathology, articular damage, and disruption of the ligamentum teres. Careful clinical assessment is reliable at determining the existence of hip joint pathology, although variable in determining its nature. Arthroscopy is effective at addressing numerous lesions, often allowing successful resumption of the athlete's competitive career. This article details the assessment of hip joint problems in the athlete with numerous illustrative examples highlighting various forms of pathology that can be addressed.