The hip arthroscopy procedure begins with the patient under anesthesia, either general or regional. The patient is then positioned on a specialized surgical table that allows for easy movement and access to the hip joint. The surgeon makes several small incisions (typically less than 1 cm) around the hip joint. An arthroscope, which is a thin tube with a small camera and light attached, is inserted through one of these incisions. The camera displays live, high-definition images of the inside of the hip joint on a video monitor in the operating room, allowing the surgeon to visualize the internal structures of the joint, including the articular cartilage, the cartilage covering the femoral head and acetabulum, the ligaments, and the tendons. Through the other small incisions, specialized surgical instruments are inserted. The surgeon can use these instruments to cut, remove, and repair damaged tissue. Common procedures performed during hip arthroscopy include repairing or removing labral tears, removing bone spurs that cause FAI, repairing certain ligament tears, removing loose bodies within the joint, and treating some cases of synovitis. After the surgical procedure is complete, the instruments and arthroscope are removed, and the small incisions are closed with sutures or surgical tape. Recovery after hip arthroscopy is typically much faster than with open surgery and involves a program of physical therapy to help restore hip strength, motion, and function.