Tomographic study of the arthroscopic approaches to the hip joint

Purpose: The anatomic depth of the hip joint has long been one of the limiting factors in the development of arthroscopy of this particular joint. A major factor would seem to be variation in body size. The main purpose of this study was to quantify the distance between the joint and the skin in usual arthroscopic approaches. Type of Study: In vivo radiologic study using computed tomography. Methods: We studied the distance from the center of the acetabulum. to the skin. The lines that we studied correspond to the paratrochanteric, the anterolateral, and anterior arthroscopic entry points. Results: Although notable differences exist from one individual to another, the average values of the aforementioned are 12.4 cm, 11.2 cm, and 9.8 cm, respectively. The distances of these portals are greater in women than in men (P <.05), and there is no statistically significant relationship to age. Conclusions: The results of the present work suggest that surgical tools needed for arthroscopy of the hip should be more than 16 cm long to guarantee performing hip arthroscopy comfortably in more that 95% of the population.