Timing From Symptom Onset to Hip Arthroscopy Does Not Affect Patient-Reported Outcome Measures for the Treatment of Femoroacetabular Impingement in Adolescent Patients

Arthroscopic Procedure for Femoroacetabular Impingement Syndrome in Adolescents: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

Femoroacetabular impingement (FAI) is caused by aberrant anatomy involving the proximal femur with or without the acetabulum resulting in mechanical impingement. FAI's effects can be devastating in the young. In recent studies, significant associations have been found between skeletal immaturity, FAI, and sports involvement. Hip arthroscopy for FAI has been demonstrated to produce good results. We opted to update the review and meta-analysis to further narrow the research gap in the literature by including recently published studies and a comprehensive review of the arthroscopic approach for FAI. Prior to January 1, 2024, PubMed, Embase, and Google Scholar databases were searched for the studies with data on surgical procedures and patient-related outcomes for arthroscopic FAI. RevMan 5.2 was utilized to calculate the pooled mean differences with a 95% confidence interval to compare reported postoperative and preoperative patients' outcomes. In total, 24 studies of adolescent subjects with a mean age of less than 20 years, including 1,619 patients and 1,767 hips, were included. Eleven studies included acetabuloplasty and femoroplasty as major treatments. When preoperative and postoperative outcomes were compared, statistically significant changes were seen in the mHHS (modified Harris hip score), HOS-ADL (Hip Outcome Score-Activities of Daily Living), HOS-SSS (Hip Outcome Score-Sports-Specific Subscale), i-HOT (International Hip Outcome Tool 12 questions), NAHS (Nonarthritic Hip Score), and the visual analog scale. Numbness, neuropraxia and infections were seen in only 12 patients. This meta-analysis demonstrated overall improvements in hip pain, quality of life, and hip function along with few complications.

Delayed hip arthroscopy for femoroacetabular impingement syndrome does not increase revision but does increase rates of chronic opiate use

Introduction

In recent years, the utilization of hip arthroscopy to treat femoroacetabular impingement syndrome (FAIS) has increased due to its low complication rates, positive impact on patient-reported outcomes (PROs), and association with faster rehabilitation. Despite this, there are high rates of revision and conversion to total hip arthroplasty (THA) in some of these patients. It is unclear whether time from initial FAIS diagnosis to surgery is a risk factor for poor outcomes. In this study, we examined the relationship between timing of hip arthroscopy for FAIS and rates of 2-year revision hip procedures, 2-year conversion to total hip arthroplasty (THA), post-operative medical complications, and opioid prescriptions.

Methods

This is a retrospective cohort study utilizing the PearlDiver database. Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) and International Classification of Diseases (ICD) codes were used to identify patients who had surgery for FAIS with minimum 2 years follow-up available. Patients were stratified by 3-month intervals into 5 groups based on time from diagnosis of FAIS to hip arthroscopy. Multivariate logistic regression was performed to determine factors independently associated with continued opiate use and subsequent surgeries.

Results

A total of 14,677 patients were included in the study. The 2-year rate of revision hip arthroscopy was 4.2%. As time from diagnosis to surgery increased, even in multivariate regression analysis, there was a higher risk of filling an opioid prescription 90 days after surgery (P < 0.001). Regression analysis demonstrated that timing of surgery was not associated with 2-year revision hip arthroscopy or conversion to THA. Age, sex, obesity, and tobacco use were significant predictors of revision hip arthroscopy and conversion to THA (p < 0.001).

Conclusion

There is no significant difference between timing of surgery for FAIS and odds of revision or conversion to THA. Prolonged opiate use after hip arthroscopy was significantly higher as duration from initial FAIS diagnosis to surgery increased. Age, sex, obesity, and tobacco use are significant predictors for revision, conversion to THA, and continued opiate prescriptions.

The evolving role and technique of hip arthroscopy in children and adolescents

Hip Arthroscopy in the pediatric and adolescent hip has evolved from its role as a diagnostic tool to a primary modality of management of variety of hip pathologies in children and adolescents. This article reviews current concepts and advances in hip arthroscopy in this population. We discuss the indications, techniques, outcomes, and complications of hip arthroscopy in children and adolescents. We explore the newer indications of hip arthroscopy in the treatment of SCFE (Slipped Capital Femoral Epiphysis) deformity correction, borderline hip dysplasia, septic arthritis, infantile developmental dysplasia, Perthes disease, and the existing and developing evidence. Finally, we address the challenges and future directions in research, education, and training, unique to the pediatric and adolescent population.

Key Concepts

(1)Hip arthroscopy has significant surgical applications in the pediatric and adolescent population, and can be used to help address several intra-articular as well as extra-articular pathologies.(2)The indications and potential for arthroscopic interventions and associated arthroscopic techniques is growing and developing rapidly, along with improving technology, techniques, and training.(3)FAI (Femoro Acetabular Impingement) and labral pathology are the most common indications for surgery in the adolescent, and clinical outcome studies show excellent results. However, nonoperative optimization should be strongly emphasized before surgical consideration.(4)Hip arthroscopy is minimally invasive and relatively low risk, though main risks and complications to be aware of is the potential need for revision or further surgery, transient neuropraxia of the pudendal nerve, surgical site infection, implant/tool-related breakage or failure, failed surgery, and venous thromboembolism.(5)Continued research and innovation in the field of pediatric hip arthroscopy are essential for further improving outcomes and expanding treatment options for young patients with hip disorders, and more pediatric-specific clinical research is needed.

Comparison of Gait and Functional Outcomes Between Open and Arthroscopic Treatment of Adolescent and Young Adult Femoroacetabular Impingement

BACKGROUND

Management of femoroacetabular impingement (FAI) through an arthroscopic or surgical hip dislocation (SHD) approach has been shown to have similar clinical success and patient-reported outcomes. However, there are limited data comparing functional outcomes. The purpose of this study was to compare gait and functional outcomes of adolescent/young adult patients with FAI treated by either an arthroscopic or open SHD approach.

METHODS

We identified prospectively enrolled adolescent/young adult patients (≤20 years old) who underwent surgical treatment for FAI through an SHD or arthroscopic approach. Participants were evaluated in a movement science lab preoperatively and postoperatively (minimum 8 months postoperatively) with barefoot walking and a 30-second single-limb balance trial on the affected side. Participants also completed the Harris Hip Score at the same timepoints. Differences from preoperative to postoperative were determined using a paired-samples t test for each surgical technique, and differences between the SHD and arthroscopic groups were determined using an independent samples t test (α=0.05).

RESULTS

Fifty-five participants (42F, 16.2±1.4 y) were tested and grouped by surgical intervention. The SHD and arthroscopy groups consisted of 28 and 27 participants, respectively, with no significant difference between the SHD and arthroscopic cohorts in age (16.4±1.2 vs. 15.9±1.5 y, respectively, P =0.218) or sex distribution (78.6% vs. 74.1% females, respectively, P =0.75). Each group demonstrated significant postoperative improvement in Harris Hip Score (SHD: 64.8±16.4 to 81.8±17.8; arthroscopy: 57.0±16.7 to 84.7±19.7; preoperatively to postoperatively, respectively, both P <0.001). During gait, increased maximum hip flexion was observed following surgical intervention for the SHD group (32.3±5.7 vs. 36.1±5.2, P =0.003). No other clinically significant changes were detected in the SHD or arthroscopic groups preoperatively to postoperatively in trunk, pelvis, or hip kinematics in the coronal plane. During the balance task, neither cohort demonstrated markers of clinically significant abductor dysfunction. However, post operatively, the arthroscopy group was able to balance longer than the SHD group (18.8±7.8 vs. 14.2±2.7 s, respectively, P =0.008), although no differences were detected in trunk or pelvis position in the coronal plane during balance.

CONCLUSIONS

Both open SHD and arthroscopic treatment of FAI resulted in improved clinical outcomes with no clinically significant abductor dysfunction 1 year post operatively. However, further study is needed to determine whether more dynamic tasks can potentially elicit subtle differences between the groups.

LEVELS OF EVIDENCE

Level II-prospective study.

Editorial Commentary: Nonoperative Management Is the First Line of Treatment for Hip Femoroacetabular Impingement in Adolescents: Children Are Not Little Adults!

Adult patients undergoing hip arthroscopy who experience preoperative symptoms for a longer duration have worse outcomes postoperatively compared with those symptomatic for a shorter duration. Ongoing femoroacetabular impingement (FAI) may lead to worse damage that may not be fully reparable and could be used as evidence for early surgery. However, the same reasoning may not be applicable to adolescents for whom nonoperative treatment remains the first line of treatment for FAI. Many newly symptomatic FAI patients may actually have biomechanically treatable pathology of their hip, core, or spine, making their FAI symptomatic, and if these biomechanical factors can be corrected, the FAI may become asymptomatic. Patients with low pelvic incidence are "hip users" who compensate for their pelvic issue by increasing hip range of motion, making them more prone to symptomatic FAI and leading to degenerative changes from impingement. Only after failure to improve after a full course of physical therapy is established should adolescent patients and parents be counseled on hip arthroscopy as an appropriate treatment option.