Cardinal Orthopaedic Institue and Ohio Orthopedic Center of
Excellence are becoming one orthopedic one  Shoulder and Hip
Arthroscopy: What is the Difference?  by Kenneth J. Westerheide,
M.D.  With the growing popularity of hip arthroscopy, the masses
are becoming more educated about the structures of the hip. News
reports of famous athletes undergoing hip arthroscopy have
brought these conditions into mainstream media. However, many
terms and structures are similar to that of the shoulder, so
what is the difference?  The hip and the shoulder are both ball
and socket joints that have cartilage, ligaments, labrum, and a
surrounding capsule. There are some differences between these
joints that influence the treatment for injuries and painful
conditions. The hip is much more constrained or inherently
stable than the shoulder. The hip obviously is a "weight bearing
joint" unlike the shoulder which introduces many differences.
The shoulder is much more dependent on muscles connecting
directly to the ball for moveme