I had a bad twisting injury while skiing last season. After four months of constant groin pain I went to see a surgeon. He did arthroscopic surgery and repaired a torn ligament (ligamentum teres) in my hip. He explained how this ligament goes between the top of the hipbone into the socket to help hold it together. How does the surgeon get to this ligament to repair it?

You mentioned arthroscopic surgery. In this operation, the doctor
uses a special tool called an arthroscope that’s inserted
into the joint. There’s a tiny TV camera on the end of the arthroscope. This gives the doctor a view inside your hip joint. Special shaving and suction tools can also go through the scope into
the joint.

The surgeon uses three things to help in an operation like this. The
arthroscope and special curved tools makes it possible to reach all
around inside the hip joint. The scope can enter the joint from one
of several places. This gives the surgeon access to the hard to
reach areas. The patient’s hip can also be put in a position that
gives the surgeon a better view.