The role of arthroscopic thermal capsulorrhaphy in the hip

Instability in the hip joint is much less common than in the shoulder, but can be a source of great disability. The hip joint relies much less on its adjacent soft tissue for stability because of its intrinsic osseous stability in the hip. It is apparent that any deviation from "normal" bony anatomy will lead to more dependence on capsular tissue and labrum for stability. The author began to recognize and treat hip instability arthroscopically in 1998. Early results are promising and the purpose of this article is to enlighten the reader on the role of arthroscopic thermal capsular shrinkage in the hip and its specific indications.