Concierge orthopaedic surgery · London
Hip arthroscopy, keyhole surgery for FAI, labral tears and early cartilage disease.
Hip arthroscopy is a day-case keyhole procedure to inspect and treat the hip joint. Modern indications: femoroacetabular impingement (FAI), labral tears, cartilage lesions and loose bodies — before considering hip replacement.
Why patients choose us
- 01
The right hands
We route you to a hip-preservation surgeon — a subspecialist orthopaedic consultant who does hip arthroscopy weekly, not occasionally.
- 02
Modern rehab pathway
Sports-medicine physiotherapy from day one — the surgery is only half the answer.
- 03
Independent, and free
We are paid by no clinic, so the recommendation is impartial and costs you nothing.
Key facts
Hip arthroscopy at a glance.
The six things worth knowing before you read anything else on this page.
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Definition
Keyhole surgery of the hip joint using small portals and a camera.
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Day-case under GA
Home the same day, under general anaesthetic.
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Traction and X-ray
Traction table and intra-operative fluoroscopy set up the joint for access.
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Treats FAI and labrum
Femoroacetabular impingement (cam and pincer), labral tears and cartilage lesions.
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Not for advanced OA
Not indicated in advanced hip osteoarthritis — hip replacement is the correct route.
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Sports-medicine rehab
Structured rehab with sports-medicine input drives the outcome as much as the surgery.
Indicative pricing
What a private hip arthroscopy costs in London.
Indicative ranges across our partner hospitals. Send the details and we quote firm figures across two or three options.
In short
A standard labral repair with cam osteoplasty in our network: £7,500–£11,000, as a day-case.
| Item | Indicative range | Typical duration | Turnaround |
|---|---|---|---|
| Consultant hip-preservation opinion | £250–£450 | 45 min | Same visit |
| MRI arthrogram of the hip | £650–£1,100 | 60 min | 24–48 hrs |
| Diagnostic hip arthroscopy | £4,500–£6,500 | 60 min | Day-case |
| Hip arthroscopy — labral repair + cam osteoplasty | £7,500–£11,000 | 90–120 min | Day-case |
| Labral reconstruction (graft) | £9,500–£14,000 | 2 hrs | Day-case |
| Structured post-op rehab package (12 wks) | £1,200–£2,400 | Programme | Weekly |
Prices vary by hospital, complexity, implants used and whether labral reconstruction is required. We come back with a firm quote within one working day.
The problem
Hip arthroscopy is only as good as who does it — and who selects for it.
Two things go wrong: the wrong patient (an arthritic hip), or a general orthopaedic surgeon operating occasionally. We route to a hip-preservation subspecialist, and we say no when arthroscopy isn’t the right operation.
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Groin pain in a young athlete?
Classic FAI presentation — MRI arthrogram first, then a subspecialist opinion.
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Labral tear on MRI?
We match you to a surgeon who repairs and, when needed, reconstructs the labrum.
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Told you need a hip replacement?
If the joint is arthritic, arthroscopy will not help — we will tell you so.
The pathway
From first consultation to same-day discharge — what happens, in order.
A single surgical team from consultation to op note, with a rehab pathway that starts within days.
Phase 1 · Before surgery
Consult, MRI, pre-op
Phase 2 · Day of surgery
GA · 60–120 minutes
Phase 3 · After
Discharge same day
- 01
Before
Orthopaedic consultation
A hip-preservation subspecialist takes the history, examines the hip, and confirms whether arthroscopy is the right route.
- 02
Before
MRI arthrogram of the hip
The gold-standard imaging for labral tears and cam/pincer morphology, with intra-articular contrast.
- 03
Before
Pre-op assessment
Bloods, ECG if indicated, anaesthetic review and consent — usually one clinic visit.
- 04
Before
Fast 6 hours pre-op
Clear fluids up to 2 hours, food stopped 6 hours before your slot.
- 05
Day of surgery
GA and traction table set-up
General anaesthetic, positioning on the traction table and fluoroscopic confirmation of joint access.
- 06
Day of surgery
Arthroscopic procedure
60–120 minutes: portals placed, joint inspected, and the labral, chondral or bony pathology addressed.
- 07
After
Discharge the same day
Home the same day on crutches, with a structured rehab plan and a physiotherapy appointment booked in.
Consult to surgery: 2–6 weeks. Return to sport: 4–6 months.
What it treats
When hip arthroscopy is the right operation.
Hip arthroscopy answers a specific question — is the pain coming from a mechanical, intra-articular problem in an otherwise well-preserved joint? These are the presentations we see most.
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Femoroacetabular impingement (cam / pincer)
Bony overgrowth of the femoral head-neck junction or acetabular rim causing painful impingement.
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Acetabular labral tear
Tear of the fibrocartilage rim of the socket — a common cause of groin pain and clicking.
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Chondral defect
Focal cartilage lesion — debridement, microfracture or biological repair.
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Loose bodies
Cartilage or bone fragments removed arthroscopically to unlock the joint.
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Snapping-hip pathology
Intra-articular snapping addressed at arthroscopy where conservative care fails.
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Ligamentum teres tear
Debridement of a torn ligamentum teres, an under-recognised source of deep hip pain.
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Synovitis
Inflamed synovium biopsied or debrided when it is the pain generator.
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Red flag: intra-op nerve or vascular injury — urgent surgical review
New neurology or vascular compromise after surgery is a same-day surgical review — not a wait-and-see.
Treatment options
What can be done — and when arthroscopy isn’t the answer.
The intra-operative procedures, plus the rehab and non-arthroscopic alternatives worth knowing.
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Rim trimming (pincer)
Arthroscopic reduction of an over-covering acetabular rim to relieve pincer impingement.
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Cam osteoplasty
Reshaping of the femoral head-neck junction to remove the cam lesion.
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Labral repair or reconstruction
Suture repair of the native labrum, or graft reconstruction where the labrum is unreconstructable.
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Microfracture / cartilage repair
Marrow-stimulation or biological cartilage repair for focal chondral defects.
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Ligamentum teres debridement
Arthroscopic debridement of a torn ligamentum teres.
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Structured rehab and return-to-sport
A staged 12–24 week programme with sports-medicine physiotherapy.
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Hip replacement (advanced arthritis)
When the joint is already arthritic, arthroplasty — not arthroscopy — is the right operation.
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Multi-disciplinary team review
Complex or revision cases discussed jointly with radiology, sports medicine and physiotherapy.
Our vetted London network
A small panel of surgeons, we picked them.
Partners across central London hip-preservation practice. Not listed publicly — introductions are made privately, once we understand your case.
Selection criteria
How we choose every surgeon in our network.
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Consultant hip-preservation surgeons doing arthroscopy as a subspecialist practice
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MRI arthrogram reported by a musculoskeletal radiologist
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Day-case surgical unit with fluoroscopy and traction table
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Sports-medicine physiotherapy integrated from week one
Safety and eligibility
A day-case operation, with real but uncommon risks.
Hip arthroscopy is well-tolerated when patient selection is right. The practical points are patient selection, traction time, and a realistic rehab plan.
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Day-case under GA
General anaesthetic with a same-day discharge for the majority of patients.
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Traction on the operating table
Time on traction is deliberately kept short to protect the perineal soft tissues and nerves.
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Not for advanced arthritis
Arthroscopy in an already-arthritic hip is a common source of poor outcomes — we will say so.
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DVT prophylaxis
Mechanical and chemical prophylaxis where indicated, with early mobilisation.
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Crutches for 2 weeks
Protected weight-bearing on crutches for the first 1–2 weeks in most cases.
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Sports-medicine physio
Rehab starts within days — passive movement early, loaded work later.
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Return to sport 4–6 months
Realistic return-to-sport timeline is months, not weeks — beware promises otherwise.
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Sciatic-nerve neuropraxia
Traction-related nerve stretch is uncommon and usually settles — we monitor for it.
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Bring prior MRI and reports
Previous imaging and physio notes materially sharpen the operative plan.
Red flags and known complications
- Advanced hip osteoarthritis
- Sciatic nerve injury post-op
- Iatrogenic avascular necrosis (AVN)
- Post-op infection
- DVT / PE
- Adhesive capsulitis of the hip
- Heterotopic ossification
- Failed labral repair
- Perineal-nerve injury from traction
Your op note
The operative note can look intimidating. It isn’t.
Whatever was found, the note keeps to the same four parts.
A quiet reminder
The op note is written for your GP and physio, not for you — and that’s normal.
If you would like us to talk you through it before your follow-up, just ask.
- 01 Header
Indication and side
Your details, the side operated on, and the confirmed intra-articular pathology.
- 02 Technique
Portals, traction time, findings
Portal placement, traction duration, and vessel-by-vessel intra-articular findings.
- 03 Procedure
What was done, and why
Cam osteoplasty, rim trimming, labral repair or reconstruction — with rationale.
- 04 Plan
Weight-bearing, rehab, follow-up
Post-op restrictions, the rehab milestones and when to see the surgeon and physio again.
Recognised by major UK insurers
Cover depends on your policy and hospital; we confirm with your insurer before booking.
Frequently asked
Everything we get asked about hip arthroscopy.
Quick answers on candidacy, recovery, risks, and when a hip replacement is the better operation.
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What is hip arthroscopy?
Keyhole surgery of the hip joint. Two or three small portals allow a camera and instruments into the joint to treat femoroacetabular impingement, labral tears, cartilage lesions and loose bodies — without opening the hip.
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Am I a candidate?
The best candidates are younger, active patients with mechanical hip or groin pain, a confirmed labral or FAI pathology on MRI arthrogram, and preserved joint space. Advanced osteoarthritis is not an indication — hip replacement is the correct operation.
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How long does it take?
Between 60 and 120 minutes depending on what is being repaired. It is a day-case procedure under general anaesthetic in almost every instance.
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What is the recovery?
Crutches for 1–2 weeks, physiotherapy from day one, back to a desk job within 1–2 weeks. Return to running is usually around 3–4 months, and full return to competitive sport at 4–6 months — sometimes longer.
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What are the risks?
Uncommon but real: sciatic or perineal nerve neuropraxia from traction, DVT, infection, iatrogenic cartilage damage, heterotopic ossification, and — rarely — avascular necrosis. A poor operation on an arthritic hip is the biggest avoidable risk.
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When is a hip replacement the better option?
When the joint space is already narrowed on X-ray, when there is diffuse cartilage loss on MRI, or when the patient is older with generalised osteoarthritis — a total hip replacement gives better and more durable results than arthroscopy.
Sources
What this page is built on.
- British Hip Society. Hip arthroscopy standards.
- NICE. Arthroscopic femoro-acetabular surgery for hip impingement syndrome (IPG408).
- International Society for Hip Arthroscopy (ISHA).
- American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. Hip arthroscopy patient information.
Last reviewed 2026-07-30. Next review 2027-07-30. Reviewed by Pulse Atlas Editorial Board, .
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In practice, in London
What hip arthroscopy looks like on the ground in London
With hip arthroscopy, the London question is usually about report turnaround and the radiologist reading it — not whether the scan is available. The NHS route for hip arthroscopy is thorough, but the queue is real. Most patients we speak with have been told to expect anywhere from a handful of weeks to several months, depending on their local trust and how the referral is graded. Going private in London usually collapses that window to a matter of days — often the same week if the diary allows. It isn’t about jumping a queue so much as buying time back while you still have the flexibility to plan around it.
In practice, a private hip arthroscopy appointment in London means a named consultant, a proper hour in the room (or the equivalent on a video call), and a report you can actually read. Most of the imaging suites and endoscopy units we use sit within a mile of Harley Street or in Chelsea and Fulham, and turnaround on findings is measured in days, not weeks. For hip arthroscopy specifically, the difference between a routine report and a sub-speciality read is where private care earns its keep.
There are a lot of consultants in London who can technically handle hip arthroscopy. Fewer who do it week in, week out for the exact question you’re bringing. We spend most of our time working out which is which — and being straight when a different test or a different specialist would serve you better. Everything runs to CQC, GMC and Royal College standards; the choice is about fit, not floor.
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