Does Bony Regrowth Occur After Arthroscopic Femoroplasty in a Group of Young Adolescents?

Abstract

To evaluate femoral head-neck bone regrowth and PROs in skeletally immature patients that underwent arthroscopic femoroplasties over a minimum 2-year period. Eleven skeletally immature hips (10 patients) with open femoral head physes underwent femoroplasty between October 2008 and November 2013. Inclusion criteria were minimum 2-year follow-up with patient-reported outcomes (PROs) and radiographs preoperatively, at 2weeks, and at a minimum of 2years postoperatively. Exclusion criteria were >16 years of age, preoperative Tönnis grade >1 and previous hip conditions. Preoperative radiographs were used to assess skeletal immaturity, which was indicated by a Risser score ≤4 and femoral head physis >1mm. Alpha angles were measured preoperatively, at 2weeks, and at a minimum of 2years postoperatively. PROs, including the modified Harris Hip Score (mHHS), Non-Arthritic Hip Score (NAHS), Hip Outcome Score-Sports Specific Subscale (HOS-SSS), and visual analog scale (VAS) score, were measured preoperatively and at the latest follow-up. Mean age at surgery was 14.7years (range: 13.2-15.9). Mean follow-up was 35.7months (range: 23.3-61.4). All hips tested positive for anterior impingement preoperatively. The mean preoperative alpha angle was 61.8°, which decreased to 41.5° postoperatively (P < .0001) and was 40.7° at a minimum of 2years postoperatively. No bony regrowth was documented at the latest follow-up. Mean improvements in scores were as follows: mHHS= 58.5 to 79.8 (P < .0001), NAHS= 56.8 to 87.1 (P= .008), HOS-SSS= 34.3 to 78.3 (P= .004), and VAS score= 7.5 to 1.3 (P<.0001). Mean patient satisfaction was 8.7 ± 1.7. One hip (9.0%) required revision arthroscopy at 31.1months. No postoperative complications were reported. Bony regrowth of the femoral head-neck region did not occur in this study of skeletally immature females who underwent arthroscopic femoroplasty. In this group of patients, hip arthroscopic treatment of FAI and labral tears is a safe and favorable intervention because of its high patient satisfaction and outcome scores and absence of postoperative complications. Level IV, prognostic study.