Femoroacetabular Impingement: Early Results of Arthroscopic Management (SS-57)

Abstract

The treatment of Femoroacetabular impingement (FAI) has thus far been documented extensively only with an extensile open approach. In the last few years, the treatment has been expanded to include arthroscopic management in selected cases. In this study, a series of 24 patients with a diagnosis of FAI were treated arthroscopically and reviewed retrospectively. Patients were identified retrospectively after having completed a non-athritic hip score (NAHS) and a WOMAC scale prospectively. The average age of the 24 patients was 36 years (range 21-54). There were 18 men and 6 women in the study. The average follow-up was 16 months (range 8- 22). Radiographs were assessed for evidence of femoral or acetabular impingement as well as degenerative changes via the Tnnis classification. The average preoperative WOMAC and NAHS were 63 and 75, respectively. At six months follow-up the average scores were 97 and 95, respectively. 19 patients with evidence of FAI and Tonnis grade I degenerative disease did substantially better than the 5 who had more advanced grades. In 17 patients there anterosuperior acetabular cartilage delamination lesions. There were no surgical complications noted in the group and no development of avascular necrosis. It appears that the arthroscopic management of patients with clinically evident FAI is certainly reasonable and provides good early results. Whether the outcomes will delay the onset of osteoarthritic changes or provide long-lasting relief of symptoms is the subject of further study.