Sports Medicine Surgery · Kennewick, WA
Hip Arthroscopy — Move Without Limits.
Fellowship-trained sports medicine surgeon specializing in hip arthroscopy, FAI correction, and labral repair for athletes in the Tri-Cities, WA.
What is it?
A minimally invasive window inside the hip joint.
Hip arthroscopy is a minimally invasive surgical procedure where Dr. Kelly uses a small camera and instruments through tiny incisions to diagnose and treat problems inside the hip joint — without opening the joint or dislocating it.
The most common conditions treated arthroscopically are femoroacetabular impingement (FAI) and hip labral tears — often occurring together. These cause deep groin pain, limited range of motion, and an inability to train or compete at full intensity.
For the right patient, hip arthroscopy relieves pain, restores motion, and prevents the progressive cartilage damage that leads to early hip arthritis.
Signs you may need hip arthroscopy
- Deep groin or hip pain with activity
- Sharp pain when sitting for long periods or getting in/out of a car
- Decreased hip range of motion — difficulty with flexion or internal rotation
- Clicking, catching, or locking in the hip
- Pain that hasn't improved with physical therapy and activity modification
What we treat
Conditions addressed with hip arthroscopy.
Most hip arthroscopy cases involve one or more of these conditions, often occurring together.
FAI
Femoroacetabular Impingement
Abnormal bone growth on the ball (cam lesion) or socket (pincer lesion) causes friction with hip movement. Dr. Kelly reshapes the bone to eliminate impingement and restore normal motion.
LL
Hip Labral Tear
The labrum is cartilage that seals and stabilizes the hip socket. Tears — usually caused by FAI or trauma — cause pain, clicking, and instability. Dr. Kelly repairs or reconstructs the labrum arthroscopically.
CC
Cartilage Damage
Chondral defects (damage to the joint surface cartilage) often accompany FAI and labral tears. Microfracture or cartilage treatment can be performed at the same time to address these lesions.
The procedure
What to expect with hip arthroscopy.
Hip arthroscopy is performed with you on a specialized surgical table. Gentle traction creates space in the joint for the camera and instruments. Most procedures take 1–2 hours as outpatient surgery.
Dr. Kelly addresses all pathology found at surgery — bone reshaping, labral repair or reconstruction, and cartilage treatment — in a single procedure when possible. You go home the same day on crutches.
Pre-op imaging
Hip X-rays assess bone morphology and FAI. MR arthrogram evaluates the labrum and cartilage. CT may be used for 3D bone analysis.
Outpatient surgery (~1–2 hrs)
Bone reshaping, labral repair, and cartilage treatment through 2–3 small incisions. Same-day discharge on crutches.
Protected weight-bearing (2–6 wks)
Crutches used for 2–6 weeks depending on procedure. Stationary bike starts early. Physical therapy begins within the first week.
Return to sport (4–6 months)
Running typically resumes at 3–4 months. Return to full sport and cutting activities at 5–6 months for most patients.
Why Dr. Kelly
"I've been the patient I now treat — I know what it takes to compete, and I know what it takes to get back."
Fellowship-trained at the University of Missouri, Dr. Kelly served as team physician for Division I programs including football, basketball, and baseball — treating the same injuries at the highest level of college athletics. He came home to the Tri-Cities to bring that same standard of care to every patient he sees.
Mizzou
D1 team physician — football, basketball, baseball. Highest-level sports medicine training.
Fellowship
Orthopedic sports medicine fellowship, University of Missouri. Board-certified orthopedic surgeon.
All-State
Three-sport All-State athlete at Pasco High — he understands what it means to compete and what it takes to return.
FAQ
Common questions about hip arthroscopy.
Am I a good candidate for hip arthroscopy?
Good candidates typically have hip pain that has not responded to physical therapy, confirmed FAI or labral pathology on imaging, and preserved hip joint cartilage (no advanced arthritis). Dr. Kelly evaluates all of these factors at your consultation. Hip arthroscopy is not appropriate for patients with significant arthritis.
How long is recovery after hip scope surgery?
Most patients use crutches for 2–6 weeks depending on the extent of work done. Running typically resumes at 3–4 months, and full return to sport is usually 5–6 months. Patients who had labral reconstruction or cartilage work may require closer to 6 months.
Will hip arthroscopy help my groin pain?
If your groin pain is caused by FAI or a labral tear, hip arthroscopy has a strong success rate in relieving pain and restoring function. Patient satisfaction after hip arthroscopy for well-selected patients with FAI and labral tears is approximately 85–90%.
Does Dr. Kelly do hip arthroscopy in Kennewick?
Yes. Dr. Kelly performs hip arthroscopy, FAI correction, and labral repair at Tri-City Orthopedics in Kennewick, WA, serving patients from Kennewick, Richland, Pasco, and the surrounding region including Walla Walla, Yakima, and Eastern Oregon.
Hip pain limiting your training?
Request a consultation with Dr. Kelly at Tri-City Orthopedics in Kennewick — serving the Tri-Cities and surrounding region.