[New possibilities in the detection and surgical therapy of synovitis of the hip joint].

Missing pathognomonic clinical and radiological signs, an early diagnosis of hip joint synovitis is often impossible. Ultrasonography and arthroscopy of the hip joint are useful methods to accomplish recognition and exact description of chronic inflammatory hip joint diseases. These new diagnostic methods enable an early adequate treatment. Until today synovectomy of the hip joint is still a rare surgical procedure. Reasons are the difficulties in diagnosis of the synovitis and the insufficient radicality of synovectomy if the femoral head is not luxated temporarily. The semi-arthroscopic synovectomy of the hip joint allows a radical removal of the synovial membrane even in the fossa acetabuli, avoiding the inherent risks of a luxation of the femoral head.