Hip Arthroscopy in athletes with Femoroacetabular Impingement: functional outcomes

Abstract

Introduction:Hip pathology is being recognized with more frequency as source of disability and functional limitation in athletes. It has been stated that the overload made with certain positions during some sports activities can develop condral damage. Moreover, the sum of bone deformity and repetitive movements of the hip requiered in sports may increase the risk of causing injuries. These can be treated with hip arthroscopy. Despite of this, there is a lack of evidence about the time taken to return to sports activity and the level reached afterwards by those patients treated with this procedure.Objective:Describe the clinical evolution, the time taken to return to sports activity and the level reached a year after the treatment of femoroacetabular impingement (FAI) with hip arthroscopy in 23 athletes.Method:23 athletes were included in the study, defined as those patients with a minimum of 6 hours a week of sports practice, who were treated for FAI with hip arthroscopy between 2010 and 2015 by the same surgeon at our institution. The diagnosis was clinical (positive impingement test, hip pain and functional limitation of the hip), radiological (cam and pincer) and with magnetic nuclear resonance (labral tears). Preoperative modified Harris hip score was registered in all cases. Tonnis radiographic score was used. All patients had type 0 or 1 Tonnis hips. After 3 months of ineffective non operative treatment the arthroscopy was performed. Patients were treated in dorsal decubitus with orthopedic table. Labral reconstruction with anchors and femoral and acetabular osteoplasty was made. After surgery, patients were able to walk with support for 4 weeks and began physiotherapy. A year after surgery, all patients were questioned about the time taken to return to sports activity and the level of activity reached at that time compared to the one they had before symptoms appeared. The modified Harris hip score was also registered.Results:Ten patients played soccer as a main sport activity (44%), 3 basketball (13%), 3 martial arts (13%), 3 rugby (13%), 2 running (9%), 1 bicycling (4%) and 1 motocross (4%). The average time taken to return to sports activity was 4.7 months. 12 patients returned at 4 months (52%), 6 patients at 5 months (26%) and 5 patients at 6 months (22%). All patients were able to return to sports activity. Twenty patients reached the same level of activity they had before symptoms appeared (87%). Three patients did not get to previous activity level (13%). The averaged postoperative modified Harris hip score was 92 points (excellent). 20 patients (87%) scored excellent results and 3 patients (13%) regular ones. The average improvement after surgery of this score was 26 points.Conclusion:The treatment of FAI with hip arthroscopy in athletes allowed us to achieve excellent clinical results in 87% of the patients (modified Harris hip score). They took an average of 4.7 months to return to sports activities. 87% of them returned to the same level of practice they had before symptoms appeared.