Joint-Specific Instruments for Hip Surgery

A new joint-specific set of instruments is designed to improve a surgeon's ability to access the hip joint during arthroscopic surgery.

Arthroscopic or minimally invasive surgery on the hip is performed to alleviate pain due to traumatic injury or congenital abnormalities. These include loose cartilage fragments, tears to the labrum tissue surrounding the joint, and cartilage injuries. The new Hip Access System containing five instruments is the product of Smith & Nephew's Endoscopy division (Andover, MA, USA).

The Hip Director Guide pinpoints the insertion site for the anterior portal, while the canulated Switching Stick provides access into the hip capsule. The Port Enlarger enlarges the size of the arthroscopic portal, and the Modular T-Handle provides a firm grip and rotational control for advancing the Switching Stick and Portal Enlarger into the joint. The Pistol Grip slotted cannula allows working instruments to be passed in and loose bodies to be removed from the joint.

"While hip arthroscopy has become an accepted surgical procedure over the last decade, one of the biggest challenges has been providing surgeons with the right instruments to gain optimal access to the hip joint,” explained Victor M. Ilizaliturri, M.D., Adult Joint Reconstructive Service Institute of Orthopedics at the national Rehabilitation Center of Mexico (Mexico City), a co-developer of the system. "The Hip Access System was developed to alleviate those concerns,” he added.



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