Hip Arthroscopy

Hip arthroscopy involves a tiny camera and tools through small cuts to fix problems inside your hip.

Think of it like sending a mini camera into a jammed door hinge to clean it up and make it move smoothly again.

Why it’s done

• To fix a torn labrum (the cushion around the hip socket)
• To shave extra bone causing impingement (FAI: cam/pincer)
• To remove loose pieces or inflamed tissue

Shorter wait times

Consults and surgery dates are typically scheduled in weeks—not months—which means faster relief and return to work, sport, and caregiving duties.

Choice & control

Ability to choose a surgeon based on what's important to you (i.e. specific expertise, experience, qualifications, personal connection).

Certainty

Private pathways typically provide a clear quote and surgery date/timeline, so you can arrange time off, caregiver help, and rehab. This certainty can ease anxiety and help families plan for recovery.

Preventing further decline

• Symptom progression: Ongoing impingement can worsen labral and cartilage damage, potentially increasing the risk of early arthritis.
• Complexity creep: Delays can lead to larger cam/pincer deformities, more extensive chondral injury, and a tougher recovery.
• Performance preservation: Earlier correction can help protect hip mechanics, maintain sport/work capacity, and reduce compensatory issues in the back, knee, or opposite hip.
• Mental load: Shortens time living with activity restrictions, sleep disruption, and uncertainty.

1. ‍Confirm your diagnosis. Most patients start with a family doctor or specialist who confirms that hip arthroscopy is needed.
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2. Research. Explore surgeons who specialize in private hip arthroscopy.
   • You can find surgeons in Vancouver, British Columbia; Calgary, Alberta; Toronto, Ontario; and Montréal, Québec on our app, and review qualifications, as well as pricing.
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3. Schedule an initial consultation. Most surgeons offer in-clinic and online consults.
   
   • Consultations are usually booked within days or a few weeks.
   • Note: expect a consultation fee between $150 - $350.
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4. Consultation. The surgeon will review your condition, symptoms, and any previous treatments or diagnostics, such as x-rays or MRIs.
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5. ‍Post consultation. The surgeon will then review your case and provide surgical options based on your needs; review the risks and expected outcomes; and present pricing and scheduling options.
   
   • Because the procedure is not covered by your provincial health plan when done privately, you’ll need to review the quoted cost and consider payment options (out-of-pocket, private insurance, or financing).
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6. Schedule your surgery date. Once you confirm the procedure and payment, the clinic will schedule your surgery—generally within a few weeks.
   
   • Plan for travel and accommodation, since the surgery will likely take place outside your home province.
   • Expect pre-surgery preparation, and possibly some pre-surgery tests.

Hip arthroscopy takes 1.5 to 3 hours, depending on the complexity of the underlying problem.

• Anesthesia: You’re put to sleep.
• Position + traction: Your leg is gently pulled to open the ball-and-socket space.
• Tiny cuts: 2–3 small incisions for a camera and slim tools.
• Inspect: Salty fluid expands the joint; the surgeon looks at cartilage, labrum, and ligaments.
• Fix: Repair labral tears with tiny anchors, shave extra bone causing impingement, remove loose pieces, tidy inflamed tissue, and close/tighten the capsule.
• Rinse + test motion.
• Close skin; small bandages.

The recovery process varies patient to patient. Your recovery might look quite different, so please seek further guidance from your surgeon. In general here is what you can expect:

Week 1:

• Goals: Pain management, swelling reduction, initial basic movement, preventing blood clots.

• Activities:
  
  • Assisted walking, ankle pumps, breathing exercises, and physical therapy within first day.
  • Practicing simple movements (in and out of bed, using bathroom) without assistance.
  • Pain medication management and wound care (it will be advantageous to have a friend, family member, or caretaker support you for both in the first few days).
  • Minimal weight bearing with crutches, only walking a few minutes per day (if at all).
  • Exercises focusing on muscle activation and passive motion (as directed by your surgeon).

Weeks 2-4:

• Goals: transition to partial weight-bearing, slowly increase mobility and strength.
  

• Activities:
  
  • Wound care, possibly removing stitches.
  • Physio focused on a developing range of motion and simple strength building exercises.
  • Slowly increase walking duration, using assistive devices as needed.

Weeks 5-12:

• Goals: Walk unassisted, restore gait, resume most normal activities.

• Activities:
  
  • More challenging physical therapy, progressive overload, restoring near full range of motion.
  • Walking longer distances, focusing on normalizing the gait. Potentially jogging around 8-10 weeks.

Weeks 13-52:

• Goals: Regain full or near-full range of motion, recover your lost strength and stamina, and slowly return to normal activity levels.

• Activities:
  
  • Physical therapy may continue the entire first year post operation, gradually bringing you back to your activity levels pre-surgery.
  • Daily exercises are no longer essential once you achieve normal range of motion and strength, but routine exercise is encouraged to keep muscles strong.
  • You will be able to return to low impact sports like golf, tennis, swimming, or cycling. For anything high impact, please consult your surgeon and physio.

Private clinics in Canada charge roughly $15,000 to $25,000 for hip arthroscopy.

Costs vary with city, surgeon experience/volume, clinic vs hospital setting, case complexity, implants/anchors used, and whether services are bundled (all‑inclusive vs itemized anesthesia, imaging, follow‑ups).

What’s included

Most quotes for private hip arthroscopy cover:

• Surgeon fee (and assistant if used) and anesthesiologist/general anesthesia.
• Facility fees (OR time, nursing, standard supplies, arthroscopy tower).
• Standard implants/anchors and disposable instruments for routine labral repair/FAI work.
• Immediate post‑op recovery care and routine early follow‑ups (wound check, suture removal).
• Basic discharge items and initial rehab instructions (sometimes a brace/crutches if bundled).

What’s usually not included:

• Pre‑op consults and advanced imaging beyond basics (MRI arthrogram, CT for 3D mapping).
• Specialty implants/extra anchors for complex or revision cases.
• Braces, continuous‑passive‑motion devices, or additional equipment if not bundled.
• Unexpected overnight admission, additional imaging, or management of complications beyond the routine global period.
• Formal physiotherapy beyond initial guidance (ongoing PT sessions are usually out‑of‑pocket/insurance).
• Post‑discharge medications (pain meds, anti‑nausea).
• Travel and accommodation if out‑of‑province.

Insurance and financing options

• Private health insurance: Some plans may cover part of the costs, such as hospital fees. It’s important to check your policy directly.
• Financing plans: Many clinics offer monthly payment options to help spread out the cost. Learn more about your financing options here.‍
• Medical Expense Tax Credit (METC): This is a non-refundable credit that reduces your taxes when you pay out-of-pocket for eligible medical expenses. Learn more about how to claim METC for private surgeries.

Choosing your surgeon is one of the benefits of going the private route. Here’s what to consider and the key questions to bring to your hip arthroscopy consultation.

What to look for

• Experience and volume
  • Ask how many hip arthroscopies they perform each year and their case mix (FAI cam/pincer, labral repair vs reconstruction, capsular plication, revisions). High volume often means smoother care.
• Credentials and training
  • Confirm licensure with the provincial college (e.g., CPSO in Ontario, CPSBC in BC, CPSA in Alberta).
  • Look for FRCSC-certified orthopaedic surgeons with fellowship training in hip arthroscopy/sports medicine.
• Specialization and outcomes
  • Ask about return-to-sport rates, reoperation rates (revision arthroscopy or conversion to hip replacement), complication rates (nerve traction symptoms, heterotopic bone), and typical timelines.
• Technique and philosophy
  • Do they routinely repair (not debride) the labrum when possible?
  • How do they address FAI: amount of cam/pincer resection, rim trimming, acetabular/femoral version considerations?
  • Do they close/tighten the capsule (capsular closure/plication) and in which patients?
• Imaging and planning
  • Comfort with MRI arthrograms and 3D CT for bony planning when needed; uses intra‑operative fluoroscopy for precise reshaping.
• Facility accreditation‍
  
  • Make sure the clinic is accredited by national bodies such as Accreditation Canada or the Canadian Association for Accreditation of Ambulatory Surgical Facilities (CAAASF).‍
• Rehab integration‍
  
  • Access to hip‑savvy physiotherapy, clear phased protocol, and communication with your local therapist if you’re traveling.

Questions to ask during your hip arthroscopy consultation

Surgeon and surgery plan

• How many hip arthroscopies do you perform yearly? What’s your typical case mix and complication/reoperation rates?
• Based on my imaging, do I need labral repair or reconstruction? How many anchors are typical in cases like mine?
• What anesthesia and pain plan do you use (nerve blocks, multimodal meds)? Expected OR time?
• Where will the procedure be done (ambulatory center vs hospital)? Is it fully accredited?

Recovery and aftercare

• Weight‑bearing and bracing: Will I use a brace? Crutches for how long? Sleeping precautions?
• Motion and activity milestones: When do I start stationary bike, drive, return to desk work, jog, cut/pivot, and full sport?
• Physio cadence: How often early on, and how do you coordinate with my therapist? Do you provide a written protocol?
• What symptoms should prompt me to call or go to the ER (e.g., calf pain, fever, severe numbness)?
• Who is my point of contact after surgery and typical response time?

Costs and logistics

• What exactly is included in my quote (surgeon, facility, anesthesia, implants/anchors up to how many, brace/crutches, follow‑ups)?
• What could add cost (extra anchors, reconstruction instead of repair, unexpected overnight stay, additional imaging, complications)?
• If complications occur or a revision is needed, how are costs handled? Do you have a revision policy?
• If I’m traveling from another province, which follow‑ups can be virtual? What records will I receive for my local care team/insurer?