Did COVID-19 restrictions affect post-operative rehabilitation of patients who underwent arthroscopic management of femoroacetabular impingement?

Abstract

Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the impact of a home-based exercise rehabilitation protocol for post-arthroscopy femoroacetabular impingement (FAI) patients compared to the routine physiotherapy protocol and investigate the effect of COVID-19 restrictions on patient rehabilitation and clinical outcomes. Methods: The study used a prospective cohort with a matched-pair comparison research design. The study group included 26 patients who underwent arthroscopic management of FAI through osteochondroplasty and suture anchor repair from July 2020 to June 2022. Thirty patients from the existing database who underwent arthroscopic management of FAI from June 2018 to June 2020 were included as a control group. Patient demographic and baseline data, the modified Harris Hip Score and the international Hip Outcome Tool-12 (iHOT-12) Score, the surgical satisfaction questionnaire, and the COVID-19 rehabilitation questionnaire were investigated for both groups. Patients in the study group received home-based exercise booklets. Results: The iHOT-12 score was significantly improved in the study group compared to the control group at 6 and 12 months (72 ± 22.33, 80.85 ± 13.46 vs. 58.03 ± 23.89, 62.1 ± 19.52, P = 0.029, P < 0. 001, respectively). Conclusion: Home-based exercise protocols successfully managed to achieve better outcomes in the study group assessed through the iHOT-12 Score at 1 year postoperatively. However, patients’ satisfaction was lower in the study group than in the control group.