Hip arthroscopy is an effective technique. It can be performed successfully either supine or in the lateral position, but there appear to be modest advantages of the supine approach. Arthroscopy offers a less invasive alternative to arthrotomy for traditionally recognized forms of hip pathology, such as loose bodies or impinging osteophytes. Arthroscopy also offers a method of treatment for many conditions (including labral tears, acute articular injuries, and damage to the ligamentum teres) that previously went unrecognized and untreated. In the past, these patients were simply resigned to living within the constraints of their symptoms. Several dictums about hip arthroscopy must be acknowledged. First, the key to a successful outcome lies in proper patient selection. A technically well-executed procedure will fail when performed for the wrong reason, or when the outcome fails to meet the patient's expectations. Second, the patient must be properly positioned for the procedure to go well. Poor positioning will assure a difficult procedure. Third, simply gaining access to the hip joint is not an outstanding technical accomplishment. The paramount issue is accessing the joint in as atraumatic a fashion as possible. Due to its constrained architecture and dense soft tissue envelope, the potential for inadvertent iatrogenic scope trauma is significant and, perhaps unavoidable to some extent. Therefore, every reasonable step should be taken to keep this concern to a minimum. Perform the procedure as carefully as possible and be certain that it is being performed for the right reason. After accessing the joint, the techniques of operative arthroscopy for the hip employ existing strategies established in other joints. Because of the restraints imposed by the hip, however, technical deficiencies may be more apparent.