During the procedure, called hip arthroscopy, surgeons use minimally invasive tools and techniques to examine the hip and correct problems through three small incisions rather than through invasive, open surgery.

"The hip joint is very deep inside the body and is difficult to work on," says Daniel Lamar, MD, surgeon with Coastal Orthopedics and Sports Medicine, and one of the few orthopedic surgeons who performs hip arthroscopies.

New, longer instruments provide guided entry into the joint, allowing surgeons to provide pain relief for patients without requiring them to go through invasive procedures, explains Dr. Lamar. Hip arthroscopy allows doctors to offer patients minimally invasive treatment for problems that were previously difficult to access and treat.

The procedure itself involves three small incisions, each the size of the end of a pencil. A miniature high-definition camera is inserted into one hole and the other two are used as instrument portals.

In many cases, patients who had been candidates for hip replacement surgery have been able to postpone that surgery because they received immediate relief with hip arthroscopy. The new technique is not just for elderly patients, Dr. Lamar says, adding that he has had patients as young as 16 years of age who have benefitted from hip arthroscopy. Physicians who use the procedure are able to clear fluids from the hip joint to provide pain relief to patients, remove loose or damaged cartilage or smooth rough edges from hip joints.

Patients who undergo hip arthroscopic surgery can typically return to sedentary work in one to two weeks. Returning to labor-intensive work may take longer, depending on the procedure and type of work. Most patients will walk with crutches for two to six weeks, and most can resume driving after a week.

Most patients will undergo intense rehab for two to three weeks, then continue rehab as needed for an additional two to three months. Rehab includes stationary bicycles and elliptical machines and can begin as soon as one week after the procedure.

Jim Wilson, CEO of Lakewood Ranch Medical Center says that offering hip arthroscopic surgery is in keeping with the hospital's goal of making advanced medical technology available to area residents.

"The hospital is dedicated to providing physicians with advanced medical equipment so that our patients can receive the benefits of advancements in orthopedic treatments," Wilson says.