Hip Arthroscopy for Femoroacetabular Impingement Syndrome Shows Good Outcomes and Low Revision Rates, With Young Age and Low Postoperative Pain Score Predicting Excellent 5-Year Outcomes

Abstract

Purpose: To evaluate the clinical outcomes of hip arthroscopy for femoroacetabular impingement syndrome (FAIS) and their predictors at a minimum 5 years' follow-up.

Methods: We retrospectively analyzed patients with FAIS after first-time unilateral hip arthroscopy between January 2010 and July 2016. Patient-reported outcomes (PROs) included the validated modified Harries Hip Score (mHHS) and Visual Analog Scale for Pain (Pain VAS). We included patients with Tönnis grade 0 or 1 and reported PROs, and excluded patients with previous hip diseases or bilateral symptoms. Bivariate and multivariate analyses were used for data analysis.

Results: We included 159 patients with a mean follow-up of 6.4 years, aged 36.18 ± 8.61 years, 41.5% female, and a mean body mass index of 23.61 ± 3.45. The mean postoperative mHHS was 88.82 ± 11.60, and the mean Pain VAS was 1.93 ± 1.89, significantly better than before surgery (P < .001). Postoperative alpha angle (P = .003) and lateral center edge angle (P < .001) were significantly decreased. Most patients (83.7%) achieved clinically important improvement based on patient-acceptable symptom state and minimal clinically important difference (MCID). The overall revision surgery rate was 2.5%. There were no conversions to total hip arthroplasty. Bivariate analysis indicated that age (P < .001), preoperative mHHS (P = .002), and postoperative Pain VAS (P <.001) correlated with postoperative mHHS at a minimum 5 years' follow-up. Multivariate regression analysis of MCID showed that age (P <.001), preoperative PROs (P < .01 for both), and postoperative Pain VAS (P < .001) were significant outcome predictors.

Conclusion: Patients with FAIS after first-time unilateral hip arthroscopy showed significant improvement in PROs at mid-term follow-up, with a low revision surgery rate. Young patients and those with low postoperative Pain VAS showed excellent outcomes at a minimum 5 years' follow-up.

Level of evidence: Level IV, retrospective case series.