Recreational athletes found likely to return to sport following hip arthroscopy for FAI

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. — According to a speaker here, patients who identify as recreational or amateur athletes and underwent hip arthroscopy to treat femoroacetabular impingement often return to sports activity.

“Recreational athletes, despite increased age, can return to sport at comparable rates to their high-level counterparts at comparable rehabilitation timelines and with comparable [patient-reported outcomes],” Alexander E. Weber, MD, said in his presentation.

Weber and his colleagues conducted an IRB-approved retrospective review of 66 patients who underwent hip arthroscopy for treatment of femoroacetabular impingement (FAI) and considered themselves amateur or recreational athletes. Patients had a mean age of 26.8 years and a mean BMI of 23.9. Metrics evaluated included 2-year patient-reported outcomes (via sport-specific questionnaire), modified Harris Hip score and hip outcome scores (HOS) with activities of daily living and sports-specific values.

Patients required an average of 9.7 months to return to sport postoperatively after having withdrawn from sport at an average of 9.5 months prior to hip arthroscopy to treat FAI. Significant withdraw from sport (more than 8 months) was associated with slower return to sport compared with patients who had been withdrawn from sport for less than 8 months. This trend continued in HOS with activities of daily living and sports-specific values.

Return to sport was noted in 57 patients (92%), and all patient-reported outcomes had significantly improved by final follow-up. Increased BMI was determined by bivariate analysis to be linked with lower improvements in patient-reported outcomes.

“Looking at the demands on the athletic FAI hip, we found contact athletes have a lower magnitude of improvement and satisfaction compared to other sport types,” Weber said. – by Christian Ingram

Reference:

Weber AE, et al. Paper #122. Presented at: American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine Annual Meeting; July 7-10, 2016; Colorado Springs, Colo.

Disclosure: Weber reports no relevant financial disclosures.