Abstract
FAI may cause pain or functional impairment for an individual, as well as potentially resulting in arthritis and degeneration of the hip joint. Results from recent randomised control trials demonstrate the superiority of surgery over physiotherapy in patients with FAI. However, there is paucity of evidence regarding which factors influence outcomes for FAI surgery, most notably on patient reported outcomes measures (PROMs).
Our study looks to explore factors influencing the outcomes for patients undergoing surgery for FAI utilising data from the Non-Arthroplasty Hip Registry.
This study is a retrospective analysis of data collected prospectively via the NAHR database. Patients meeting the inclusion criteria, who underwent surgery between January 2011 and September 2019 were identified and included in the study. Follow-up data was captured in September 2020 to allow a minimum of 12 months follow-up.
Patients consenting to data collection received questionnaires to determine EQ-5D Index and iHOT-12 scores preoperatively and at 6 months, 1, 2- and 5-year follow-up.
Changes in outcome scores were analysed for all patients and sub-analysis was performed looking at the influence of; FAI morphological subtype, age, and sex, on outcome scores.
Our cohort included 4,963 patients who underwent arthroscopic treatment for FAI. There was significant improvement from pre-operative PROMs when compared with those at 6 and 12 months.
Pre-operatively, and at 12-month follow-up, iHOT-12 scores were significantly better for the cam / mixed groups compared to the pincer group (p<0.01).
In multivariable regression analysis, pincer pathology and a high-grade chondral lesion were associated significantly poorer iHOT-12 improvement at 6 and 12 months (p<0.05)
Age (<40 vs >40) demonstrated no statistical significance when considering 12 months outcome scores.
This study demonstrates that hip arthroscopy is an effective treatment for patients with symptomatic FAI and shows statistically significant improvements at 12 months.
The findings of this study are relevant to orthopaedic surgeons who manage young adults with hip pathology. This will help them to; predict which patients may benefit from operative intervention, and better inform patients, when undertaking shared decision making.
