Material and methods February 2004–March 2010, 48 athletes, football players, basketball players, weight lifters, gymnasts, three water polo players. Mean age: 32 years. (19–39 year old)

Instrumentation and equipment 70°, 4.5 mm arthroscope, High flow rate mechanical pump, 15 gauge 6″ cardiac needle, Convex full radius chondroplasty blades, special electrocautery. Distraction apparatus, DVD unit, mechanical water pump unit, mage intensifier

Indications Undiagnosed hip pain, early osteoarthritic signs, labral pathology, loose bodies, osteochondral defects, sepsis, ligamentum teres, trauma, synovitis, femoral acetabular impingment (FAI), ‘frozen hip’, chondrocalcinosis.

Symptoms Deep dull ache pain during hip flexion and external or internal rotation, decrease range of motion, decreased hip flexion.

Clinical findings 30/48 Cam sign: positive, 12/48 Pincher sign: positive, impingement syndrome in hip flexion and internal and rotation and occasionally in external rotation, snapping hip, iliopsoas tendinitis.

Surgery Standard orthopaedic traction table, supine position, hip is extended and abducted 25°

Portals Anterolateral, posterolateral, modified anterolateral

Intraoperative findings Detachment of the labrum, 10/48 erosion of the articular cartilage of the acetabulum and drilling of the bare area, 30/48 Cam sign excision, 12/48 pincer sign excision, 8/48 superior medial and superior lateral labrum repair with anchors. (intra-articularly)

Results The modified Harris Hip Score was used for their classification of their symptoms. Two of the athletes had a residual pain due to an iliopsoas tendinitis. 45/48 had relief from their arm symptoms, 1/48 will need to be reoperated shortly (after he developed FAI), 2/48 are treated for the iliopsoas tendinitis.

Conclusion The athletes with symptoms of an internal hip pain and FAI signs after a detailed clinical exam of their hip and after failure of their conservative treatment, will certainly get a benefit from an arthroscopic procedure (which is technically demanding).