Performance and return to sport after hip arthroscopy for femoracetabular impingement syndrome in National Hockey League players

Abstract

Abstract Femoroacetabular impingement (FAI) syndrome is a common cause of hip pain in National Hockey League (NHL) players that may lead to decreased performance. The purpose of this study was to determine the (i) return to sport (RTS) rate in NHL players following hip arthroscopy for FAI, (ii) post-operative career length and games per season, (iii) pre- and post-operative performance and (iv) post-operative performance compared with control players. NHL athletes who underwent hip arthroscopy for FAI and matched controls were identified based on position, age (±1 year), years of experience (±1 year) and performance data prior to the surgery date. Demographic and performance data were collected. RTS was defined as playing in at least one NHL game after surgery. A Bonferroni correction was used to control for multiple comparisons with statistical significance defined by a P-value ≤ 0.007. Seventy players (77 surgeries) were analysed (mean age 29.4 ± 4.5 years; mean 8.8 ± 4.7 years NHL experience at the time of surgery). Sixty-three players (70 surgeries, 90.9%) RTS at an average of 6.8 ± 4.1 months. The 1-year NHL career survival rate for players undergoing surgery was 84.4%. Players in the control group (4.4 ± 2.7 years) had longer careers (P = 0.00002) than players that underwent surgery (3.3 ± 2.5 years). There was no significant (P > 0.007) decrease in post-operative performance compared with pre-operatively and with matched controls. The RTS rate for NHL athletes after hip arthroscopy for FAI is above 90% at less than 1 year. Following surgery, if a player returns to the NHL, then their post-operative performance is similar to pre-operatively and controls, but their careers are approximately one season less than controls.