Methods and apparatus for joint distraction

A method of treating a patient's hip joint, the hip joint having an acetabulum, an acetabular fossa, and a femoral head, said method comprising:

• providing an elongate member having a proximal end, a distal end and an expandable member near the distal end;
• advancing the expandable member into the hip joint between the femoral head and the acetabulum;
• positioning the expandable member into the acetabular fossa;
• expanding the expandable member thereby separating the femoral head from the acetabulum with the expandable member remaining in the acetabular fossa;
• and
• performing a diagnostic or therapeutic procedure on the hip joint while the expandable member is expanded within the acetablular fossa.

An apparatus for distracting a hip joint having a femoral head and an acetabulum with an acetabular fossa, said apparatus comprising:

• an elongate flexible member having a proximal end and a distal end;
• and
• an expandable member coupled with the elongate member near the distal end, the expandable member being fluidly expandable from a collapsed configuration to an expanded configuration, the expandable member having a transverse dimension of at least about 10 mm in the expanded configuration and being configured to apply a distraction force of at least about 50 lbs. to said acetabulum and said femoral head at a pressure of less than about 100 psi;
• wherein the expandable member is configured to engage the acetabulum only within a contact surface such that at least about 50% of the contact surface is disposed in the acetabular fossa when the expandable member is in the expanded configuration.