Return-to-play rates following arthroscopic treatment of femoroacetabular impingement in competitive baseball players

Return to Sport Following Arthroscopic Management of Femoroacetabular Impingement: A Systematic Review

Background: Femoroacetabular impingement (FAI) is common. The present systematic review updates the current evidence on return to sport (RTS) in patients who have undergone arthroscopic surgery for FAI in any of its variants (CAM, pincer, or both). Methods: The outcomes of interest were sports-related patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) and the level and time to RTS. All available clinical studies concerning the RTS following arthroscopic management of FAI were considered. In July 2024, the following databases were accessed following the PRISMA guidelines: Embase, Web of Science, and PubMed. Only studies with a minimum of six months of follow-up were eligible. Results: From 1245 initially identified articles, 43 studies (4103 patients) met the inclusion criteria, in which 32.1% (1317 of 4103 patients) were women. The mean length of follow-up was 33.7 ± 15.8 months. The mean age was 28.1 ± 7.2 years, the mean BMI was 24.7 ± 6.4 kg/m2, and 79.6% ± 27.8% of patients returned to sport at the same or higher level at a mean of 14.3 ± 9.6 months. The mean time away from sports was 8.0 ± 3.3 months. Conclusion: Arthroscopic management for FAI leads to a high rate of RTS, with approximately 80% of patients returning to their preinjury level. Future research should focus on standardised definitions of RTS, sport-specific rehabilitation protocols, and the influence of deformity and procedures on RTS.

Swinging injuries in competitive baseball players

Injuries are common in competitive baseball players and can occur in all facets of the game. The majority of the existing literature on injuries in baseball players has focused on injuries secondary to the overhead throw with very little attention given to injuries sustained while batting. The baseball swing is a complex, often violent, motion that predisposes batters to a variety of injuries affecting the spine, trunk, pelvis, and extremities. Knowledge of injury patterns that commonly occur during the baseball swing and radiologic findings important to the treating physician can help radiologists provide accurate imaging interpretations that appropriately guide patient management.

Criteria for Return to Play After Hip Arthroscopy in the Treatment of Femoroacetabular Impingement: A Systematic Review

BACKGROUND

Femoroacetabular impingement (FAI) is a common pathology in athletes that often requires operative management in the form of hip arthroscopy.

PURPOSE

To systematically review the rates and level of return to play (RTP) and the criteria used for RTP after hip arthroscopy for FAI in athletes.

STUDY DESIGN

Systematic review; Level of evidence, 4.

METHODS

A systematic review of the literature, based on the PRISMA guidelines, was performed using PubMed, Embase, and Scopus databases. Studies reporting outcomes after the use of hip arthroscopy for FAI were included. Outcomes analyzed were RTP rate, RTP level, and criteria used for RTP. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS software.

RESULTS

Our review found 130 studies, which included 14,069 patients (14,517 hips) and had a mean methodological quality of evidence (MQOE) of 40.4 (range, 5-67). The majority of patients were female (53.7%), the mean patient age was 30.4 years (range, 15-47 years), and the mean follow-up was 29.7 months (range, 6-75 months). A total of 81 studies reported RTP rates, with an overall RTP rate of 85.4% over a mean period of 6.6 months. Additionally, 49 studies reported the rate of RTP at preinjury level as 72.6%. Specific RTP criteria were reported in 97 studies (77.2%), with time being the most commonly reported item, which was reported in 80 studies (69.2%). A total of 45 studies (57.9%) advised RTP at 3 to 6 months after hip arthroscopy.

CONCLUSION

The overall rate of reported RTP was high after hip arthroscopy for FAI. However, more than one-fourth of athletes who returned to sports did not return at their preinjury level. Development of validated rehabilitation criteria for safe return to sports after hip arthroscopy for FAI could potentially improve clinical outcomes while also increasing rates of RTP at preinjury levels.

Arthroscopic resection as a rapid recovery treatment for Os acetabuli in soccer players who had undergone hip arthroscopy: a case series with 1-year follow-up

INTRODUCTION

Os acetabuli (OSA) is defined as a radiopaque structure located around the acetabular rim highly related to Femoroacetabular Impingement (FAI). Its treatment depends on the perspective of post-surgical joint instability. Ossicle resection is recommended if the femoral head is covered enough by the labrum. Previous research has described the results of this technique in general population. The aim of this study is to describe the outcomes and the time and rate of return to play (RTP) after hip arthroscopy and OSA removal in soccer players.

METHODS

This study is a retrospective analysis of a prospective database containing all the consecutive soccer players who had undergone hip arthroscopy between 2018 and 2019. The subjects diagnosed with OSA and a center-edge angle (CEA) > 25 ° were included in the analysis. All the patients were treated with arthroscopic removal of the OSA and femoral osteoplasty. Hip function was assessed using the Modified Harris Hip Score (MHHS) before and at 3 and 12 months after surgery. Rate of RTP and competitive level at RTP were assessed at a 1-year follow-up.

RESULTS

Between 2018 and 2019, 90 soccer players were treated with hip arthroscopy in our facilities. Six of them (6.6%) were diagnosed with OSA. Mean (SD) MHHS values were 69.7 (12.1) before the surgery, 89.7 (6.7) at 3 months post-surgery and 95.7 (5.1) at 12 months post-surgery. All the subjects reported significant improvements in their MHHS scores at 3 and 12 months post-surgery compared with pre-surgery levels (p < 0.01). Non-significant differences were found between 3 and 12 months post-surgery (p > 0.05). All the subjects (100%) returned to previous competitive levels.

CONCLUSIONS

After surgery, all the soccer players returned to previous competitive level. Preoperative MHHS improved significantly at 3 months maintained for up to 12 months.

Male Gender and Competitive Athlete Status Are Associated With Better Outcomes Following Hip Arthroscopy In Patients With Global Acetabular Retroversion

Purpose

To evaluate outcomes of hip arthroscopy in patients with global acetabular retroversion and to identify correlations between sex, radiographic measurements, athlete status, and return to play with patient-reported outcomes (PROs).

Methods

Retrospective study of patients with global acetabular retroversion who underwent arthroscopic femoroacetabular impingement (FAI) surgery was performed. Global acetabular retroversion was defined by 3 criteria: the crossover sign, ischial spine sign, and posterior wall sign on an anteroposterior (AP) pelvic radiograph. Radiographs were used to measure lateral center edge angle, alpha angle, and anterior and posterior wall indices. Femoral version was measured with 3-dimensional computed tomography. Demographics included age, gender, athlete status, return to play, and reoperation. PROs included modified Harris Hip Score, Hip Outcome Score (HOS), Hip Disability and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score, visual analog scale (VAS), and Veterans RAND-12. Spearman correlation determined correlation with perioperative PROs. Generalized estimating equation determined independent predictors. Significance was set at P = .05.

Results

From 2013 to 2019, 149 patients (65.0% female) with 160 hips with FAI and global acetabular retroversion underwent hip arthroscopy. Follow-up averaged 29.6 months. All PROs demonstrated significant improvement with the exception of the Veterans RAND-12 Mental. Female patients scored significantly lower on most postoperative PROs and had greater VAS scores (P = .0002-0.0402). A greater proportion of male subjects met the minimum clinically important difference for the modified Harris Hip Score (88.00% vs 78.79%) Low femoral version correlated with greater HOS ADL, HOS Sport, and Hip Disability and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score Sport scores (P = .0077-0.0177). Athletes reported lower preoperative VAS scores, and higher perioperative scores in multiple PROs (P = .0004-0.0486). Nine hips (5.63%) underwent reoperation.

Conclusions

Patients with global acetabular retroversion and FAI undergoing hip arthroscopy report good outcomes at short-term follow-up. Male subjects and athletes had superior outcomes compared to female subjects and nonathletes. Radiographic measurements did not correlate with outcomes with exception of low femoral version. Athletes reported lower preoperative pain scores and greater postoperative PROs than nonathletes.

Level of Evidence

Level IV, therapeutic case series.

Lower Extremity Muscle Injuries in the Overhead Athlete

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

Lower extremity (LE) injuries are a common source of disability and time-loss for overhead athletes, and muscles have been found to be the predominant soft tissue structure affected. The current review highlights the orthopaedic literature examining lower extremity muscle injuries in overhead athletes in regard to epidemiology, diagnosis, and conventional and emerging treatment measures.

RECENT FINDINGS

The hamstring muscles have been found to be the most commonly injured lower extremity muscle group in professional baseball, followed by the adductors, quadriceps, iliopsoas, and gastrocnemius-soleus complex. Strains and contusions comprise over 90% of these muscle injuries. Various advanced imaging grading systems have been developed to help characterize the nature of a muscle injury, although a clear and consistent prognostic utility of these systems is still unclear. The vast majority of lower extremity muscle injuries in overhead athletes are managed nonoperatively, and there is promising data on the use of emerging treatments such as platelet-rich plasma and blood flow restriction therapy. Lower extremity muscle injuries-often referred to as strains-are a relatively common issue in high-demand overhead athletes and can be a significant source of time-loss. Within baseball, position players are affected far more often than pitchers, and sprinting and fielding are the most common activities leading to strains. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is considered the gold standard imaging modality to evaluate these muscle injuries and will allow for a detailed assessment of tissue damage. Nonetheless, return-to-play is often dictated by a given athlete's progression through a nonoperative rehabilitation protocol, with surgical intervention reserved for less common, select injury patterns.

High-Level Athletes Who Did Not Return to Sport for Reasons Unrelated to Their Hip Achieve Successful Midterm Outcomes With a Benchmarking Against High-Level Athletes Who Returned to Sport

PURPOSE

1) To report minimum 2- and 5-year outcomes of high-level athletes who did not return to sport (RTS) after hip arthroscopy for reasons unrelated to their hip (T athletes) and 2) to benchmark these findings against a propensity-matched control group of high-level athletes who returned to sport (RTS athletes).

METHODS

Data were prospectively collected and retrospectively reviewed for professional, collegiate, and high school athletes between April 2008 and October 2015, who underwent primary hip arthroscopy. Athletes were considered eligible if they did not return to sport for reasons unrelated to their hip such as loss of interest, graduation, or a lifestyle transition (T athletes). Inclusion criteria were preoperative and minimum 5-year postoperative patient-reported outcomes (PROs) for the modified Harris Hip Score (mHHS), Non-Arthritic Hip Score (NAHS), Hip Outcome Score-Sports Specific Subscale (HOS-SSS), and the visual analog scale (VAS) for pain. Clinical outcomes were assessed using the minimal clinically important difference (MCID) and maximum outcome improvement satisfaction threshold (MOIST). T athletes were then propensity-matched to a control group of high-level athletes who returned to sport after hip arthroscopy (RTS athletes) for comparison.

RESULTS

Twenty-seven T hips (25 patients) were included in the analysis with a mean follow-up time of 38.9 ± 16.8 and 72.1 ± 16.8 months for minimum 2- and 5-year outcomes, respectively. They demonstrated significant improvement in all measured PROs. When compared to a propensity-matched control group of RTS athletes, T athletes demonstrated similar improvement in PROs (mHHS, NAHS, and HOS-SSS) and achieved MCID at similar rates for NAHS (T: 77.8% vs RTS: 68.8%; P = .570) and HOS-SSS (T: 70.3% vs RTS: 76.6%, P = .824) compared to RTS athletes; however T athletes demonstrated higher rates of achieving MCID for mHHS (T: 88.9% vs RTS: 72.9% P = .033).

CONCLUSION

Athletes who did not return to sport for reasons unrelated to their hip demonstrated favorable outcomes at minimum 2- and 5-year follow-up. They had similar PROs and rates of achieving MCID for HOS-SSS compared to a propensity-matched control group of high-level athletes who returned to sport. Return to sport status may not necessarily be correlated to the patient's perception of their own outcome.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

III, retrospective cohort study.

Does the Type of Sport Influence Morphology of the Hip? A Systematic Review

BACKGROUND

Femoroacetabular impingement (FAI) has been extensively investigated and is strongly associated with athletic participation.

PURPOSE

To assess (1) the prevalence of cam-type FAI across various sports; (2) whether kinematic variation among sports influences hip morphology; and (3) whether performance level, duration, and frequency of participation or other factors influence hip morphology in a sporting population.

STUDY DESIGN

Systematic review; Level of evidence, 4.

METHODS

A systematic search of Embase, PubMed, and the Cochrane Library was undertaken following the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) guidelines. Prospective and retrospective case series, case reports, and review articles published after 1999 were screened, and those that met the inclusion criteria decided a priori were included for analysis.

RESULTS

The literature search identified 58 relevant articles involving 5683 participants. A total of 49 articles described a higher prevalence of FAI across various "hip-heavy" sports, including soccer, basketball, baseball, ice hockey, skiing, golf, and ballet. In studies including nonathlete controls, a greater prevalence of FAI was reported in 66.7% of studies (n = 8/12). The highest alpha angle was identified at the 1-o'clock position (n = 9/9) in football, skiing, golf, ice hockey, and basketball. The maximum alpha angle was located in a more lateral position in goalkeepers versus positional players in ice hockey (1 vs 1:45 o'clock). A positive correlation was also identified between the alpha angle and both age and activity level (n = 5/8 and n = 2/3, respectively) and between prevalence of FAI and both age and activity level (n = 2/2 and n = 4/5).

CONCLUSION

Hip-heavy sports show an increased prevalence of FAI, with specific sporting activities influencing hip morphology. There is some evidence to suggest that a longer duration and higher level of training also result in an increased prevalence of FAI.

REGISTRATION

CRD4202018001 (PROSPERO).

Postoperative Alpha Angle Is Predictive of Return to Sport in Athletes Undergoing Hip Arthroscopy for Femoroacetabular Impingement

PURPOSE

To identify clinical and radiographic factors that predict return to sport in athletes undergoing hip arthroscopy and to determine thresholds for significant predictors.

METHODS

Data were reviewed on all patients who underwent primary hip arthroscopy between November 2008 and August 2018. Patients were included if they played professional, college, or high school sports within 1 year before surgery and had preoperative, 3-month, 1-year, and 2-year postoperative patient-reported outcome scores for modified Harris Hip Score, Hip Outcome Score-Sport Specific-Subscale, and Nonarthritic Hip Score. Rates of achieving the minimal clinically important difference also were evaluated. Patients were divided into groups based on whether they returned to sport at the same or greater level. Multivariate logistic regression and receiver operator characteristic analysis were used to evaluate the correlation between significant variables and return to sport.

RESULTS

A total of 136 patients with a mean age of 20.8 ± 7.07 years were included. Among athletes who attempted to return, professional and collegiate athletes returned to sport at any level at a rate of 85.0% (51/60), and high-school athletes returned at a rate of 88.1% (52/59). Competition level, postoperative alpha angle, change in alpha angle, and postoperative patient-reported outcomes were significantly different between groups. Athletes who returned to sport achieved the minimal clinically important difference for Hip Outcome Score-Sport Specific-Subscale at significantly higher rates than athletes who did not return to sport (91.6% vs 71.7%, P = .002, S = 8.97). The multivariate logistic regression model identified postoperative alpha angle as a statistically significant predictor of return to sport (P < .001, S > 9.97 [odds ratio 0.85, 95% confidence interval 0.79-0.91]). The receiver operator characteristic curve for postoperative alpha angle demonstrated acceptable discrimination between patients returning to sport and patients not returning to sport with an area under the curve of 0.71 and a threshold value of 46°. Athletes with a postoperative alpha angle ≤46° returned to sport at significantly higher rates than those with a postoperative alpha angle >46° [(P < .001, S > 9.97 [odds ratio 6.3, 95% confidence interval 2.6-15.2]).

CONCLUSIONS

Postoperative alpha angle was identified as a predictor of return to sport in athletes. The odds of returning to sport were 6.3 times greater in athletes with postoperative alpha angles ≤46° compared with athletes with angles >46°.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

III, retrospective cohort study.

Lower extremity injuries in the baseball athlete

Baseball is unique in its multiple facets: pitching, hitting, base rounding, and fielding are distinct activities that require different athletic skills to perform at a high level. Likewise, these different aspects of the game can contribute to a multitude of varying injuries. While high-velocity overhead throwing, along with batting, can produce a plethora of upper extremity injuries that often garner attention, injuries to the lower extremity can severely impact a player’s performance and ability to compete. The rigors of the short, explosive sprinting required for base running, as well as the dynamic movement required for fielding, create ample opportunity for lower limb injury, and even subtle pathology can affect a pitcher’s ability to perform or increase their long-term risk of injury. Chronic injury from conditions such as femoroacetabular impingement and hip labral tears can also occur. The purpose of the present review is to summarize the relevant epidemiology, pathophysiology, and treatment of lower extremity injuries in baseball athletes, with reference to current research into the prevention and management of such injuries.

Return to Sports and Minimum 2-Year Outcomes of Bilateral Hip Arthroscopy in High-Level Athletes With a Propensity-Matched Benchmarking Against a Unilateral Control Group

BACKGROUND

Return to sports (RTS) and patient-reported outcomes (PROs) for high-level athletes after bilateral hip arthroscopy have not been well established.

PURPOSE

(1) To report minimum 2-year PROs and RTS rates in high-level athletes who underwent staged bilateral primary hip arthroscopies and (2) to compare clinical results against a propensity-matched control group of high-level athletes who underwent unilateral primary hip arthroscopy.

STUDY DESIGN

Cohort study; Level of evidence, 3.

METHODS

Data were prospectively collected and retrospectively reviewed for high-level athletes (professional, college, or high school) who underwent staged bilateral hip arthroscopy for femoroacetabular impingement syndrome between September 2009 and October 2018. Inclusion criteria were preoperative and minimum 2-year follow-up for modified Harris Hip Score, Non-arthritic Hip Score, Hip Outcome Score-Sports Specific Subscale (HOS-SSS), and visual analog scale for pain. Exclusion criteria were Tönnis grade >1, hip dysplasia (lateral center-edge angle <18°), and previous ipsilateral hip surgery/conditions. Rates of achieving the minimal clinically important difference (MCID), patient acceptable symptomatic state (PASS), and maximum outcome improvement satisfaction threshold were recorded in addition to RTS. These athletes were then propensity matched in a 1:3 ratio to high-level athletes who underwent unilateral arthroscopy for comparison. Outcomes were compared among the first hip of the study group, the second hip of the study group, and the control group.

RESULTS

A total of 74 high-level athletes who underwent bilateral hip arthroscopy met the inclusion criteria, and follow-up was available for 68 (91.9%) at 58.9 ± 24.5 months (mean ± SD). Athletes undergoing bilateral hip arthroscopy returned to sports at a high rate (81.7%), demonstrated significant improvements in all recorded PROs, and achieved the MCID and PASS for the HOS-SSS at rates of 80.9% and 64.7%, respectively. PROs, RTS rate, and rates of achieving the MCID and PASS for the HOS-SSS were similar when the bilateral study group was compared with the unilateral control group (P > .05).

CONCLUSION

High-level athletes who undergo staged bilateral primary hip arthroscopy for femoroacetabular impingement syndrome may expect favorable PROs and RTS rates at minimum 2-year follow-up. These results were comparable with those of a propensity-matched control group of high-level athletes who underwent unilateral primary hip arthroscopy.

Outcomes following surgical management of femoroacetabular impingement: a systematic review and meta-analysis of different surgical techniques

Outcomes following different types of surgical intervention for femoroacetabular impingement (FAI) are well reported individually but comparative data are deficient. The purpose of this study was to conduct a systematic review (SR) and meta-analysis to analyze the outcomes following surgical management of FAI by hip arthroscopy (HA), anterior mini open approach (AMO), and surgical hip dislocation (SHD). This SR was registered with PROSPERO. An electronic database search of PubMed, Medline, and EMBASE for English and German language articles over the last 20 years was carried out according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. We specifically analyzed and compared changes in patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs), α-angle, rate of complications, rate of revision, and conversion to total hip arthroplasty (THA). A total of 48 articles were included for final analysis with a total of 4,384 hips in 4,094 patients. All subgroups showed a significant correction in mean α angle postoperatively with a mean change of 28.8° (95% confidence interval (CI) 21 to 36.5; p < 0.01) after AMO, 21.1° (95% CI 15.1 to 27; p < 0.01) after SHD, and 20.5° (95% CI 16.1 to 24.8; p < 0.01) after HA. The AMO group showed a significantly higher increase in PROMs (3.7; 95% CI 3.2 to 4.2; p < 0.01) versus arthroscopy (2.5; 95% CI 2.3 to 2.8; p < 0.01) and SHD (2.4; 95% CI 1.5 to 3.3; p < 0.01). However, the rate of complications following AMO was significantly higher than HA and SHD. All three surgical approaches offered significant improvements in PROMs and radiological correction of cam deformities. All three groups showed similar rates of revision procedures but SHD had the highest rate of conversion to a THA. Revision rates were similar for all three revision procedures.

Outcomes and rate of return to play in elite athletes following arthroscopic surgery of the hip

Background

The tremendous physical demands of elite performance increase the risk of elite athletes sustaining various orthopaedic injuries. Hip pain is common in high-level athletes representing up to 6% of all athletic injuries. Expedient diagnosis and effective treatment are paramount for their future sporting careers and to prevent subsequent joint degeneration.

Purpose

This systematic review aimed to evaluate the outcome and the rate of return to play (RTP) following arthroscopic procedures in the hip (osteoplasty, chondroplasty, labral repair and/or debridement, capsulotomy, capsulorrhaphy or any soft tissue procedure) in elite athletes. Elite athletes were defined as those who represented their country in international contests or were competing professionally for the purpose of this study.

Methods

A computer-based systematic search, following the PRISMA Guidelines, was performed on CENTRAL, PUBMED, EMBASE, SCOPUS, EBSCO, Google Scholar and Web of Science from inception until January 1, 2020, identifying studies that looked at return to sports post-hip arthroscopy in elite athletes. Weighted means were calculated for the RTP rate and duration and for patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs).

Results

After eligibility screening, 22 articles were included with a total of 999 male and seven female patients, 1146 hips and a mean age of 28.4 ± 3.2 years. The mean follow-up period was 35.8 ± 13.4 months and 15.9 ± 9.6% of athletes had undergone bilateral procedures. Overall, 93.9% (95% CI: 90.5, 96.6, P < 0.0001) of patients demonstrated RTP after 6.8 ± 2.1 months post-surgery and all PROMs improved post-operatively. During follow-up, 9.6% (95% CI: 5.2, 15.2, P = 0.025) patients needed further intervention.

Conclusion

A high percentage of elite athletes return to the same level of competition after hip arthroscopy, with a low rate of further interventions. Hip arthroscopy appears to be an efficacious treatment for hip and/or groin pain, caused by pathologies such as FAI or labral tears, in elite athletes in the shorter term. Long term outcomes need further evaluation.

Cutting, Impingement, Contact, Endurance, Flexibility, and Asymmetric/Overhead Sports: Is There a Difference in Return-to-Sport Rate After Arthroscopic Femoroacetabular Impingement Surgery? A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Previous studies have established a classification of sports based on hip mechanics: cutting, impingement, contact, endurance, flexibility, and asymmetric/overhead. No previous review has compared the outcomes of hip arthroscopy for femoroacetabular impingement syndrome (FAIS) using this classification.

PURPOSE

To determine whether the rate of return to sport differs among cutting, impingement, contact, endurance, flexibility, and asymmetric/overhead athletes who undergo hip arthroscopy for FAIS. We also aimed to identify differences in patient characteristics, intraoperative procedures performed, and time to return to play among the 6 sport categories.

STUDY DESIGN

Systematic review and meta-analysis.

METHODS

Three electronic databases were searched for eligible articles. Two reviewers independently screened the titles, abstract, and full-text articles using prespecified criteria. Eligible articles were those that reported the rate of return to sport (defined by the number of hips) after hip arthroscopy for FAIS in athletes of all levels. Data collected were patient age, sex, body mass index, type of sport, rate and time to return to sport, and intraoperative procedures performed. A mixed effects model was used for meta-analysis.

RESULTS

A total of 29 articles and 1426 hip arthroscopy cases were analyzed with 185 cutting, 258 impingement, 304 contact, 207 endurance, 116 flexibility, and 356 asymmetric/overhead athletes. The mean age was similar among the 6 subgroups (P = .532), but the proportion of female athletes was significantly higher in flexibility, endurance, and asymmetric/overhead sports as compared with impingement and contact athletes. Flexibility athletes had the highest rate of return to sport after hip arthroscopy for FAIS (94.8%), whereas contact athletes had the lowest rate (88%). The longest mean ± SD time (8.5 ± 1.9 months) to return to sport was reported in cutting sports, while endurance athletes returned faster than the rest (5.4 ± 2.6 months). The difference in rate and time to return to sport, as well as the intraoperative procedure performed, did not reach statistical significance among the 6 subgroups. There was evidence of publication bias and study heterogeneity, and the mean Methodological Index for Non-randomized Studies score was 13 ± 2.6.

CONCLUSION

Flexibility athletes had the highest rate of return to sport after hip arthroscopy for FAIS, while endurance athletes returned the fastest. The difference in rate and time to return to sport and intraoperative procedures performed did not reach statistical significance among the 6 subgroups. These results are limited by the evidence of publication bias and should be interpreted with caution. Laboratory-based studies are necessary to validate the classification of sports based on hip mechanics.

A Biomechanical Comparison of 2 Hip Capsular Reconstruction Techniques: Iliotibial Band Autograft Versus Achilles Tendon Allograft

BACKGROUND

Several techniques for hip capsular reconstruction have been described to address gross instability or microinstability due to capsular deficiency. However, objective biomechanical data to support their use are lacking.

PURPOSE

To compare the kinematic effect of 2 capsular reconstruction techniques (iliotibial band [ITB] graft and Achilles tendon graft). Kinematic effect encompassed rotational range of motion (ROM) as well as joint translation in the coronal, sagittal, and axial planes.

STUDY DESIGN

Controlled laboratory study.

METHODS

8 paired, fresh-frozen hemi-pelvises (16 hips) were tested on a custom-designed joint motion simulator in the intact state and after capsulectomy. Pairs were randomly allocated to either ITB or Achilles reconstruction and retested. Testing was performed at 0°, 45°, and 90° of flexion. Internal-external rotation (IR-ER) torques and abduction-adduction torques of 3 N·m were applied to the femur via a load cell at each position, and rotational ROM and joint translation in the coronal, sagittal, and axial planes were recorded.

RESULTS

At 45° and 90°, there was a significant effect of the condition of the hip on the total IR-ER (P = .004, effect size [ES] = 0.305; and P < .001, ES = 0.497; respectively). At 45°, mean ± SD total rotation was significantly greater for the capsulectomy (59.7°± 15.9°) state compared with intact (53.3°± 13.2°; P = .007). At 90°, reconstruction significantly decreased total rotation to 49.0°± 18.9° compared with a mean total rotation of 52.8°± 18.7° after capsulectomy (P = .02). No difference was seen in the total abduction-adduction of the hip between conditions. Comparisons of the 2 different reconstruction techniques showed no significant differences in total IR-ER or abduction-adduction ROM or joint translation in the coronal, sagittal, or axial planes. For translation, at both 0° and 45° there was a statistically significant effect of the condition on the medial-lateral translation (P = .033; ES = 0.204). Reconstruction, independent of technique, was successful in significantly decreasing (P = .030; P = .014) the mean medial-lateral translation at 0° and 45° of hip flexion from 5.2 ± 3.8 mm and 5.6 ± 4.0 mm to 2.8 ± 1.9 mm and 3.9 ± 3.2 mm, respectively.

CONCLUSION

The integrity of the native hip capsule played a significant role in rotational stability, where capsulectomy significantly increased rotational ROM. Both ITB and Achilles reconstruction techniques restored normal rotational ROM of the hip at 90° of flexion as well as coronal plane stability at 0° and 45° of hip flexion. No differences were seen between ITB and Achilles reconstruction techniques.

CLINICAL RELEVANCE

Both capsular reconstruction techniques provide comparable joint kinematics, restoring rotation and translation to normal values with the exception of rotational ROM at 45°, which remained significantly greater than the intact state. The most significant results were the rotational stability at 90° of hip flexion and coronal plane stability at 0° and 45° of hip flexion, which were significantly improved compared with the capsulectomy state.

Hip Arthroscopy Successfully Treats Femoroacetabular Impingement in Adolescent Athletes

BACKGROUND

There is evidence that femoroacetabular impingement (FAI) is increasingly prevalent among adolescent athletes. Abnormal contact forces across the hip and alterations in bony morphology characteristic of FAI may be especially detrimental in this group, given their young age and active lifestyle.

PURPOSE

The purpose of this study was to report the findings, outcomes, and return to sport percentage among adolescent athletes with FAI treated with hip arthroscopy.

METHODS

A retrospective review of all patients younger than 18 years who underwent hip arthroscopy for FAI at a single institution was performed. All athletes who were attempting to return to sport and underwent hip arthroscopy were included. Patients with previous hip surgery and/or hip conditions were excluded. Arthroscopic procedures and an assessment of intra-articular findings were recorded. Patient-reported outcome measures were recorded at 3 months, 1 year, and 2 years postoperatively, and included the modified Harris hip score, the nonarthritic hip score, hip outcome score-sports subscale, visual analogue scale for pain, and patient satisfaction. Return to sport percentage and ability levels were also noted.

RESULTS

There were 96 eligible cases of adolescent athletes treated with hip arthroscopy; 81 (84.4%) hips in 69 patients had 2-year follow-up. Running/track and field was the most common sport (25), followed by soccer (12), dance (10), baseball/softball (9), and basketball (6). There were 61 females and 20 males, whose average age was 15.9±1.2 y (range: 13.1 to 18.0 y). The most common procedures were labral repair (81.5%), iliopsoas fractional lengthening (72.8%), femoroplasty (69.1%), and acetabuloplasty (66.7%). Capsular repair or plication was performed in most patients (81.5%). Cartilage damage was more common on the acetabulum than the femur, with Outerbridge grade 2 or higher occurring in 23.5% and 4.9% of hips, respectively. Statistically significant improvements were seen in all patient-reported outcomes from preoperative to minimum 2-year follow-up. A total of 84.0% of patients had returned to their sport at latest follow-up. There were 6 (7.4%) patients who underwent revision arthroscopy at a mean of 37.3 months postoperatively.

CONCLUSION

Symptomatic FAI in adolescent athletes can be successfully treated with hip arthroscopy, with a higher return to sport rate and low complications and reoperation rate at minimum 2-year follow-up.

Bilateral Hip Arthroscopy in High-Level Athletes: Results of a Shorter Interval Between Staged Bilateral Hip Arthroscopies

BACKGROUND

Hip arthroscopy is a safe and effective mechanism for treating femoroacetabular impingement symptoms in high level athletes. Bilateral symptoms occur in a subset of this population.

PURPOSE

To discuss outcomes of bilateral hip arthroscopy in high-level athletes and compare a standard staged timeline for bilateral hip arthroscopic surgery versus an accelerated timeline.

STUDY DESIGN

Cohort study; Level of evidence, 3.

METHODS

A retrospective review of all staged bilateral hip arthroscopies was performed on high-level athletes over a 3-year period. Patients were categorized into cohorts based upon when the second procedure was performed (4-6 weeks after the index procedure or >6 weeks after the index procedure). Exclusion criteria included any prior hip surgery, advanced arthritis, previous pelvic or femoral fracture, or inflammatory arthropathy. Demographics, radiographic measurements, operative reports of procedures performed, and patient-reported outcomes (Hip Outcome Score-Activities of Daily Living, Hip Outcome Score-Sport Specific Subscale, modified Harris Hip Score, return to sports, return to same level of play) were compared between groups at 6-month, 1-year, and 2-year intervals, with the Student t test used for continuous data and a chi-square test used for categorical data.

RESULTS

50 patients were identified: 22 in the accelerated surgery (AS) group and 28 in the standard surgery (SS) group. Age and number of collegiate participants were greater in the AS group, whereas the number of high school participants and the time away from sports were higher in the SS group. Preoperative alpha angles were significantly larger among the AS group, but no differences were found in postoperative alpha angles, center edge angles, or Tönnis grades. No significant difference was seen in patient-reported outcomes between the 2 groups at 6-month, 1-year, and 2-year follow-up.

CONCLUSION

Bilateral hip arthroscopy performed 4 to 6 weeks apart is a safe and effective treatment option for athletes with bilateral femoroacetabular impingement and labral tears; the procedures entail a high rate of return to sports, return to the same level of sports, and decreased time lost from sports. This information could be useful for an athlete deciding on whether to proceed with bilateral hip arthroscopy and deciding on the timing for the procedures.

Performance and Return to Sport After Hip Arthroscopy in the National Basketball Association

PURPOSE

To determine: (1) return to sport (RTS) rate in National Basketball Association (NBA) players following hip arthroscopy, (2) postoperative career length and games per season, (3) pre- and postoperative performance, and (4) postoperative performance compared with control players.

METHODS

NBA athletes who underwent hip arthroscopy and matched controls were identified. RTS was defined as playing in at least 1 game after surgery. Player efficiency ratings were used for performance evaluation. Continuous variables of each group were compared using a 2-tailed paired samples Student t test for normally distributed data. χ² was used to analyze categorical data. RTS was used as the primary outcome with statistical significance defined by a P value < .05. A Bonferroni correction was used to control for the remaining multiple comparisons with statistical significance defined by a P value ≤.008.

RESULTS

Twenty-three players (24 hips) were analyzed (mean age 27.5 ± 3.1 years; mean experience in the NBA 5.8 ± 2.8 years at time of surgery). Small forwards (n = 8, 33.3%) represented the largest proportion of players that underwent hip arthroscopy. Twenty players (21 surgeries, 87.5%) were able to RTS in NBA at an average of 5.7 ± 2.6 months. The overall 1-year NBA career survival rate of players undergoing hip arthroscopy was 79.2%. Players in the control group (5.2 ± 3.5 years) had a similar career length as (P = .068) players who underwent surgery (4.4 ± 3.0 years). There was no significant (P = .045) decrease in games per season following surgery. There was no significant difference in performance postoperatively compared with preoperatively (P = .017) and compared with matched controls following surgery (P = .570).

CONCLUSIONS

The RTS rate for NBA athletes after hip arthroscopy is high. There was no decrease in games played, career lengths, or performance following hip arthroscopy in NBA players versus preoperatively and matched controls.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Level III case-control study.

Physical Activity Following Hip Arthroscopy in Young and Middle-Aged Adults: A Systematic Review

Background

Hip arthroscopy is a common surgical intervention for young and middle-aged adults with hip-related pain and dysfunction, who have high expectations for returning to physical activity following surgery. The purpose of this review was to evaluate the impact of hip arthroscopy on physical activity post-arthroscopy.

Methods

A systematic search of electronic databases was undertaken in identifying studies from January 1st 1990 to December 5th 2019. The search included English language articles reporting physical activity as an outcome following hip arthroscopy in adults aged 18-50 years. Quality assessment, data extraction and synthesis of included studies were undertaken.

Results

Full text articles (n = 234) were assessed for eligibility following screening of titles and abstracts (n = 2086), yielding 120 studies for inclusion. The majority (86%) of the studies were level 4 evidence. One study reported objective activity data. The most frequently occurring patient-reported outcome measure was the Hip Outcome Score-sport-specific subscale (HOS-SS, 84% of studies). Post--arthroscopy improvement was indicated by large effect sizes for patient-reported outcome measures (standard paired difference [95% confidence interval] −1.35[−1.61 to −1.09] at more than 2 years post-arthroscopy); however, the majority of outcome scores for the HOS-SS did not meet the defined level for a patient-acceptable symptom state.

Conclusion

The current level of available information regarding physical activity for post arthroscopy patients is limited in scope. Outcomes have focused on patients’ perceived difficulties with sport-related activities with a paucity of information on the type, quality and quantity of activity undertaken.

Level of Evidence

Level IV, systematic review of Level 2 through to Level 4 studies

Comparing Outcomes of Competitive Athletes Versus Nonathletes Undergoing Hip Arthroscopy for Treatment of Femoroacetabular Impingement Syndrome

BACKGROUND

A growing number of studies have examined return to sport in competitive athletes after undergoing hip arthroscopy for femoroacetabular impingement syndrome (FAIS); however, few have evaluated the rate of achieving meaningful clinical outcomes in this group.

PURPOSE

To determine if competitive athletes (professional, semiprofessional, or collegiate) have better 2-year patient-reported outcomes and achieve the minimal clinically important difference (MCID) and substantial clinical benefit at higher rates when compared with nonathletes undergoing hip arthroscopy for the treatment of FAIS.

STUDY DESIGN

Cohort study; Level of evidence, 3.

METHODS

The study was a retrospective analysis of all consecutive patients who identified as either a competitive athlete or a nonathlete and had undergone hip arthroscopy for FAIS by a single fellowship-trained surgeon between January 2012 and April 2017. Patients in the 2 groups were matched 1:2 by age, sex, and body mass index. Baseline and clinical outcomes, including the Hip Outcome Score-Activities of Daily Living, Hip Outcome Score-Sports Subscale (HOS-SS), modified Harris Hip Score, and international Hip Outcome Tool-12, were collected preoperatively and at 2 years postoperatively and compared between the groups. The MCID and substantial clinical benefit were calculated for each group separately and compared using chi-square analysis.

RESULTS

A total of 59 competitive athletes and 118 nonathletes were included in the final analysis. Most of the competitive athletes were soccer players (23.7%), followed by softball players (10.2%) and runners (10.2%). Postoperative score comparison between competitive athletes and nonathletes demonstrated a statistically significant difference in the HOS-SS (mean ± SD, 84.5 ± 19.0 vs 76.1 ± 23.8; P = .02). Meaningful outcome analysis demonstrated that competitive athletes had a higher rate of achieving the HOS-SS threshold for the MCID (97.4% vs 82.5%; P = .021). There was no other difference in frequency of achieving the threshold for any other meaningful clinical outcome between the groups.

CONCLUSION

Hip arthroscopy for the treatment of FAIS in competitive athletes and nonathletes produced clinically meaningful outcomes in both patient groups. However, competitive athletes achieved the MCID on the HOS-SS at higher rates than nonathletes and had significantly higher scores at 2 years postoperatively on the HOS-SS.

Athletes experience a high rate of return to sport following hip arthroscopy

PURPOSE

The purpose of this systematic review was to evaluate the rate at which patients return to sport following arthroscopic hip surgery.

METHODS

The databases MEDLINE, EMBASE, and PubMed were searched by two reviewers, and titles, abstracts, and full-text articles screened in duplicate. English language studies investigating hip arthroscopy with reported return to sport outcomes were included. A meta-analysis of proportions was used to combine the rate of return to sports using a random effects model.

RESULTS

Overall, 38 studies with 1773 patients (72% male), with a mean age of 27.6 years (range 11-65) and mean follow-up of 28.1 months (range 3-144) were included in this review. The pooled rate of return to sport was: 93% [95% confidence interval (CI) = 87-97%] at any level of participation; 82% (95% CI = 74-88%) at preoperative level of sporting activity; 89% (95% CI = 84-93%) for competitive athletes; 95% (95% CI = 89-98%) in pediatric patients; and 94% (95% CI 89.2-98.0%) in professional athletes. There was significant correlation between a shorter duration of preoperative symptoms and a higher rate of return to sports (Pearson correlation coefficient = - 0.711, p = 0.021).

CONCLUSION

Hip arthroscopy yields a high rate of return to sport, in addition to marked improvement in pain and function in the majority of patients. The highest rates of return to sport were noted in pediatric patients, professional athletes, and those with a shorter duration of preoperative symptoms. This study provides clinicians with evidence-based data on athletes' abilities to return to sport after arthroscopic hip surgery and identifies sub-populations with the highest rates of return to sport.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

IV, systematic review of Level II-IV studies.

Athletes do better after FAI arthroscopic treatment in male population

BACKGROUND

Arthroscopic surgery is becoming popular in the management of hip pathologies. There are numerous studies describing the outcomes of the treatment of athletes with this method. These outcomes are generally found to be excellent. Yet there are little data in the literature with respect to the arthroscopic treatment of nonathletes. The objective of our study is to compare the outcomes of the femoroacetabular impingement (FAI) treatment between athletes and nonathletes using arthroscopy, using two popular scales.

METHODS

The study involved a total of 129 male patients operated at our departments between 2009 and 2013. The subjects were divided into two groups: athletes and nonathletes. The results were assessed using the Nonarthritic Hip Score (NAHS) and Modified Harris Hip Score (MHHS). In addition, the length of postoperative hospitalization was evaluated.

RESULTS

Analyses revealed that athletes performed better in NAHS over each period under analysis (prior to the operation, 12 and 24 months after the operation). As regards MHHS in these periods, the results in both groups were comparable. In addition, it was found that the length of postoperative hospitalization was similar in athletes and nonathletes.

CONCLUSIONS

Arthroscopic treatment of FAI is an effective method producing visible effects in athletes as well as nonathletes but quicker recovery in male athletic population. In the examined population, NAHS was a better measurement tool than MMHS, showing differences between the athlete and nonathlete population.

Health-Related Quality of Life After Hip Arthroscopy for Femoroacetabular Impingement: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

CONTEXT

Hip pain from femoroacetabular impingement (FAI) can impair health-related quality of life (HRQL) but can be treated via hip arthroscopy techniques.

OBJECTIVE

To systematically assess the HRQL outcomes after arthroscopic management of FAI.

DATE SOURCES

Three online databases (EMBASE, PubMed, and Ovid [MEDLINE]) were searched for relevant literature from database inception until June 2018 and screened by 2 reviewers independently and in duplicate.

STUDY SELECTION

Level I to IV English studies that investigated HRQL outcomes after hip arthroscopy were included. Data for generic and hip-specific HRQL outcomes were collected. Mean differences were plotted in a forest plot when possible.

STUDY DESIGN

Systematic review.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Level 4.

RESULTS

A total of 29 studies were included for assessment. Of the 6476 patients (6959 hips), the mean age was 32 years (range 9-79 years) and 50.7% were female. Significant improvements were reported in all studies assessing generic HRQL outcomes, including the 12-Item Short Form Health Survey (range of mean postoperative scores, 82.2-89.8), and EuroQOL-5D scores (range of mean postoperative scores, 0.74-0.87) between 12 and 24 months postoperatively. Significant improvements were similarly identified in the hip-specific HRQL outcomes scores, with the majority of studies also reporting improvement between 12 and 24 months postoperatively. Mean improvement in International Hip Outcome Tool-33 scores from preoperative values to postoperative values ranged from 22.7 to 43.2 ( I2 = 44%), for studies with follow-up between 12 and 24 months.

CONCLUSION

Hip arthroscopy can lead to significant improvement in generic and hip-specific HRQL outcomes at 12 to 24 months postoperatively in patients with FAI who do not have advanced hip osteoarthritis. Confirmatory, high-quality, prospective studies are warranted to compare this observed improvement with other treatment modalities for FAI and to determine long-term outcomes.

Performance and Return to Sport After Hip Arthroscopy for Femoroacetabular Impingement in Professional Athletes Differs Between Sports

PURPOSE

To determine (1) return-to-sport rates for National Football League, Major League Baseball, National Basketball Association, and National Hockey League (NHL) athletes after hip arthroscopy for femoroacetabular impingement syndrome, (2) postoperative return-to-sport rate differences between sports, (3) differences in postoperative career length and games per season, (4) differences in preoperative and postoperative performance, and (5) postoperative performance compared with that of matched control players.

METHODS

Professional athletes who underwent hip arthroscopy for femoroacetabular impingement syndrome were identified. Matched control players were identified by position, age, experience, and performance. Return to sport was defined as playing in at least 1 game after surgery. Continuous variables for each group were compared by using a 2-tailed paired-samples Student t test or χ² test. A Bonferroni correction was used to control for multiple comparisons with statistical significance defined by a P value < .002.

RESULTS

One hundred seventy-two players (86.4%) (mean age, 28.8 ± 5.2 years) were able to return to sport at an average of 7.1 ± 4.1 months. Athletes played 3.5 ± 2.4 years after surgery without significant differences between sports (P > .002). NHL players who underwent surgery played significantly fewer years (4.4 vs 3.3 years) (P < .001) and fewer games per season (4 fewer games) (P <.001) after surgery compared with control players. NHL players also had a significant decrease in performance after surgery compared with their performance before surgery (P < .001). In National Football League, Major League Baseball, and National Basketball Association athletes, no significant differences were found in games per season, career length, or preoperative performance compared with postoperative performance and performance of matched control players (P > .002).

CONCLUSION

The RTS rate for professional athletes after surgery for femoroacetabular impingement syndrome is high. Only NHL athletes had significantly shorter careers and played significantly fewer games per season compared with matched control players, with no difference between sports. NHL athletes had significantly worse postoperative performance compared with preoperative performance, with all other sports demonstrating a career-related decline similar to that of matched control players.

Return to Dance and Predictors of Outcome After Hip Arthroscopy for Femoroacetabular Impingement Syndrome

PURPOSE

To investigate the rate of return to dance and factors influencing this primary outcome after hip arthroscopy for the treatment of femoroacetabular impingement syndrome.

METHODS

A consecutive series of self-identified dancers with femoroacetabular impingement syndrome was included. To assess for the impact of hypermobility on outcomes, patients were classified as having either generalized joint laxity (GJL) or no GJL based on the Beighton-Horan Joint Mobility Index. A return-to-dance survey, the modified Harris Hip Score, and the Hip Outcome Score (HOS)-Activities of Daily Living and HOS-Sports-Specific subscales were collected preoperatively and postoperatively at 6, 12, 24, and 36 months. The preoperative-to-postoperative outcome score change was compared using the minimal clinically important difference and patient acceptable symptomatic state. Return to dance was evaluated regarding (1) return to any dance activity, (2) return to prior level of dance, and (3) number of hours of dance participation after surgery. Clinical and demographic predictors and return to dance were analyzed using univariate or bivariate analysis where appropriate.

RESULTS

The study included 64 consecutive dancers (62 female and 2 male patients) (mean age, 22.3 ± 9.4 years; body mass index, 22.8 ± 4.1) with a mean follow-up period of 23.0 months. Postoperatively, 62 patients (97%) returned to dance at an average of 6.9 ± 2.9 months; 40 patients (62.5%) reported that they returned to a better level of participation, whereas 20 dancers (31%) returned to the same level of participation. Statistically significant increases were observed for the HOS-Activities of Daily Living subscale (60.5 ± 19.5 vs 92.4 ± 11.8, P < .001), HOS-Sports-Specific subscale (40.3 ± 20.3 vs 83.5 ± 19.4, P < .001), and modified Harris Hip Score (57.0 ± 13.6 vs 86.6 ± 13.9, P < .001). There was, however, a significant decrease in the number of hours of dance postoperatively: 11.5 ± 8.2 h/wk preoperatively versus 9.0 ± 7.3 h/wk postoperatively (P = .041). All postoperative hip outcome measures showed statistically significant (P < .001) and clinically relevant improvements. Patient-reported outcomes and return time showed no significant differences between the patient groups with GJL and without GJL (P = .1 and P = .489, respectively). For competitive dancers, a correlation was shown with a shorter time to return to dance (r² = 0.45, P = .001), but there were no significant differences by skill level in patient-reported outcomes or dance hours.

CONCLUSIONS

After hip arthroscopy, 97% of dancers returned to dance at an average of 6.9 months, with most dancers dancing at a level higher than their preoperative status. Dance experience level was the only significant factor influencing return-to-dance outcomes, with competitive dancers showing a faster return to dancing.conclusion LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level IV, therapeutic case series.

Do Female Athletes Return to Sports After Hip Preservation Surgery for Femoroacetabular Impingement Syndrome?: A Comparative Analysis

Background

Female patients undergoing surgery for femoroacetabular impingement syndrome (FAIS) often experience inferior clinical outcomes and higher failure rates when compared with male patients. The influence of athletic status on hip arthroscopic outcomes in female patients, however, is unclear.

Purpose

To compare patient-reported outcomes (PROs) of athletic and nonathletic female patients undergoing hip arthroscopic surgery for FAIS, and to determine the return-to-sports rate in the athlete group.

Study Design

Cohort study; Level of evidence, 3.

Methods

Two-year PROs were assessed in female patients who had undergone hip arthroscopic surgery for FAIS by a single surgeon. Patients who self-identified as athletes were compared with nonathletes. Preoperative and postoperative PRO scores including the Hip Outcome Score-Activities of Daily Living (HOS-ADL), Hip Outcome Score-Sport-Specific (HOS-SS), modified Harris Hip Score (mHHS), and visual analog scale (VAS) for pain and satisfaction were analyzed and compared between athletes and nonathletes. Subanalysis was performed based on patient age and body mass index (BMI).

Results

A total of 330 female patients undergoing hip arthroscopic surgery for FAIS were identified. Of these, 221 patients identified as athletes (mean age, 29.1 ± 11.1 years; mean BMI, 23.0 ± 3.5 kg/m²) and 109 as nonathletes (mean age, 39.3 ± 11.4 years; mean BMI, 27.8 ± 5.8 kg/m²). Both groups demonstrated improvements in HOS-ADL, HOS-SS, mHHS, VAS for pain, and VAS for satisfaction scores (P < .001 for all). Athletes had significantly higher postoperative PRO scores compared with nonathletes (P < .001 for all). A 1:1 matched-pair subanalysis of 97 athletes and 97 nonathletes controlling for age and BMI indicated that these relationships held independently of potential demographic confounders (P < .001 for all). The number of patients meeting the minimal clinically important difference (MCID) and patient acceptable symptomatic state (PASS) for the HOS-ADL, HOS-SS, and mHHS was significantly higher in athletes aged ≤25 years versus those aged >25 years and for athletes versus nonathletes (P < .05 for all). Further, 189 of 194 athletes returned to sports at a mean of 6.0 ± 3.9 months postoperatively, with 93.7% reporting returning to the same or higher level of competition.

Conclusion

Among female patients undergoing hip arthroscopic surgery for FAIS, patients considered athletes achieved superior clinical outcomes compared with patients considered nonathletes. In addition, younger female athletes had higher rates of achieving the MCID and PASS for all PRO measures.

Performance and Return to Sport After Hip Arthroscopic Surgery in Major League Baseball Players

Background

Femoroacetabular impingement (FAI) is a common cause of hip pain that may lead to decreased performance in Major League Baseball (MLB) players.

Purpose

To determine the (1) return-to-sport (RTS) rate in MLB players after hip arthroscopic surgery for FAI; (2) postoperative career length, innings pitched (IP) (pitchers), and plate appearances (PA) (position players); (3) preoperative and postoperative performance; and (4) postoperative performance compared with control players matched by position, age, years of experience, and performance.

Study Design

Cohort study; Level of evidence, 3.

Methods

MLB athletes who underwent hip arthroscopic surgery for FAI and matched controls were identified. Demographic and performance data were collected. RTS was defined as playing in at least 1 MLB game after surgery. Continuous variables of each group were compared using a 2-tailed paired-samples Student t test for normally distributed data. The chi-square test was used to analyze categorical data. The Bonferroni correction was used to control for multiple comparisons, with statistical significance defined by a P value of ≤.007.

Results

A total of 50 players (57 surgeries) were analyzed (mean age, 30.4 ± 3.9 years; mean MLB experience at the time of surgery, 7.0 ± 4.6 years). Pitchers (31 surgeries; 54.4%) represented the largest proportion of players analyzed. Of these players, 42 (47 surgeries; 82.5%) were able to RTS at a mean of 8.3 ± 4.1 months. The overall 1-year MLB career survival rate of players undergoing FAI surgery was 78.9%. Players in the control group were in MLB a similar number of years (4.0 ± 2.9 years) to players who underwent surgery (3.3 ± 2.4 years) (P > .007). There was no significant decrease in IP or PA per season after surgery (P > .007). There was no significant difference in performance for pitchers and nonpitchers compared with matched controls after surgery (P > .007).

Conclusion

The RTS rate for MLB athletes after hip arthroscopic surgery for FAI was high. There were similar IP, PA, and career lengths postoperatively compared with preoperatively and with matched controls. There was no significant difference in performance for pitchers and nonpitchers compared with matched controls after surgery.

Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of Outcomes After Hip Arthroscopy in Femoroacetabular Impingement

BACKGROUND

Femoroacetabular impingement (FAI) has become a more commonly recognized cause of limited hip range of motion and hip pain among young adults and athletes. Hip arthroscopy is recommended for the surgical treatment of this disorder, unless specific contraindications exist. Despite the increasing rate of published studies in this area, there remains no aggregate data for outcomes after this approach.

PURPOSE

To evaluate risk factors and outcomes after arthroscopic management of FAI, including return to play, revision rate, surgical and nonsurgical complications, change in α-angle, intraoperative bone resection, and patient-reported outcomes.

STUDY DESIGN

Meta-analysis and systematic review.

METHODS

A review of the current literature was performed with the terms "femoroacetabular impingement," "hip arthroscopy," and numerous variations thereof in PubMed, EMBASE, BioMed Central, Cochrane, Science Direct, and Scopus, yielding 1723 abstracts. After screening by eligibility criteria, 31 articles were included. The incidence of bilateral FAI was determined by enrollment data, and pooled estimates were calculated for postoperative patient-reported outcome measures, α-angles, return to sport, postoperative complications, and reoperation risk.

RESULTS

A total of 1981 hips among 1911 patients were identified, with a mean ± SD age of 29.9 ± 1.9 years and 29.5 ± 14.0 months of follow-up. The incidence of bilateral FAI in these studies that required operative intervention was 3.6%. The pooled risk of reoperation after hip arthroscopy, including revision surgery or subsequent total hip arthroplasty, was 5.5% (95% CI, 3.6%-7.5%). The risk of clinical complications was 1.7% (95% CI, 0.9%-2.5%). In total, 87.7% of patients demonstrated return to sport after surgery (95% CI, 82.4%-92.9%, P < .001), and all patient-reported outcomes improved postoperatively, with the highest increase observed in the Hip Outcome Score sports scale (41.7 points; 95% CI, 34.1-49.4; P < .001). The α-angle decreased by an average of 23.6° (95% CI, 18.2°-29.0°; P < .001). We identified 11 factors associated with the success of hip arthroscopy in FAI and 16 factors associated with failure or negative outcomes.

CONCLUSION

A high percentage of patients return to sport activities after hip arthroscopy for FAI, with a low rate of complications and reoperation. All patient-reported outcome measures, except for mental health, significantly improved after surgery.

Femoroacetabular Impingement in Professional Basketball Players: Return to Play, Career Length, and Performance After Hip Arthroscopy

BACKGROUND

Previous studies have demonstrated that hip arthroscopy is an effective treatment for symptomatic femoroacetabular impingement (FAI) in professional athletes across a variety of sports. However, the return-to-play rates and postoperative performance of elite basketball players after hip arthroscopy are currently unknown.

PURPOSE

To determine return-to-play rates and postoperative performance among professional basketball athletes after hip arthroscopy.

STUDY DESIGN

Case series; Level of evidence, 3.

METHODS

Eighteen professional basketball players underwent hip arthroscopy (24 hips) for symptomatic FAI between 2001 and 2016 by a single surgeon. Return to play was defined as competing in a single professional game of equal level after surgery. Data were retrospectively obtained for each player from basketball-reference.com , ESPN.com , eurobasket.com, and individual team websites. Matched controls were selected from the websites to compare performances.

RESULTS

The mean age at the time of surgery was 25.6 years, and the mean body mass index was 24.4 kg/m². All players returned to their previous levels of competition, with a mean number of 4 seasons played after surgery (median, 3; range, 1-12). The mean ± SD time between the date of surgery and return to a professional game was 7.1 ± 4.4 months. There was no change in player efficiency rating when pre- and postinjury performance were compared. When compared with controls, players undergoing surgery also had no significant decline in player efficiency rating.

CONCLUSION

Elite basketball athletes who undergo hip arthroscopy for the treatment of FAI return to their presurgical levels of competition at a high rate. These athletes demonstrate no significant overall decrease in performance upon their return to play.

Identification of a Patient Acceptable Symptomatic State Score for the International Hip Outcome Tool in People Undergoing Hip Arthroscopy

PURPOSE

To determine a Patient Acceptable Symptomatic State (PASS) score for the 33-item International Hip Outcome Tool (iHOT-33) in people undergoing hip arthroscopy for primary diagnoses of femoroacetabular impingement syndrome, acetabular labral tears, and/or ligamentum teres pathology.

METHODS

Consecutive participants underwent hip arthroscopy by a single surgeon between August 2011 and May 2016. Participants were included if they were between ages 18 and 60 years and underwent hip arthroscopy for femoroacetabular impingement syndrome, acetabular labral tears, or ligamentum teres pathology. Participants were excluded if they did not speak sufficient English to complete the iHOT-33, had evidence of hip dysplasia, had less than 2 mm of joint space on anteroposterior radiograph, or underwent subsequent total hip replacement surgery. Participants completed the iHOT-33 preoperatively and at a minimum of 1 to a maximum of 5 years postoperatively. Participants were also asked to answer yes or no to the external anchor question of "Taking into account all the activities you do during your daily life, your level of pain and also your functional impairment, are you satisfied with your current state following your surgery?" A receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was used to identify the PASS score. Multiple logistic regression was performed to determine if patient factors, primary preoperative diagnosis, or intraoperative findings predicted achievement of the PASS score.

RESULTS

A total of 117 participants undergoing hip arthroscopy were included: 72 women (61.1%) and 45 men (38.5%) with mean age of 36.81 years (18-59). Forty-two (35.9%) had cam morphology, 18 (15.4%) had pincer morphology, 78 (67.2%) had labral tears, and 97 (82.9%) had ligamentum teres tears. Mean time to final follow-up was 2.25 years (range, 1-5). The PASS score at a mean of 2.25 years postoperatively was 58 as determined by the cutoff threshold on the ROC curve with the lowest difference between sensitivity and specificity (area under the ROC curve 0.88; P < .01; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.81-0.95). No factors were predictors of achievement of the PASS score in this study (P > .05), including age (odds ratio [OR], 0.71; 95% CI, 0.32-1.56), sex (OR, 1.02; 95%, CI 0.98-1.06), preoperative iHOT-33 score (OR, 1.002; 95% CI, 0.98-1.03), primary preoperative diagnosis (OR, 0.86; 95% CI, 0.53-1.40), cam morphology (OR, 1.19; 95% CI, 0.54-2.64), Pincer morphology (OR, 0.50; 95%, CI 0.18-1.38), acetabular labral tears (OR, 1.93; 95% CI, 0.88-4.26), Outerbridge grade 3-4 chondral damage (OR, 0.97; 95% CI, 0.42-2.25), and ligamentum teres pathology (OR, 0.95; 95% CI, 0.35-2.61).

CONCLUSIONS

This study reports a PASS score of 58 for the iHOT-33 at 2 years following hip arthroscopy. The PASS score will assist in assessing response to hip arthroscopy in research and clinical settings.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Level II, retrospective prognostic study.

Return to Play After Hip Arthroscopy: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

The use of arthroscopic treatment for intra-articular hip pathology has demonstrated improved patient-reported outcomes (PROs) with a lower rate of complications, reoperation, and patient morbidity as compared with traditional methods. Although the use of this minimally invasive approach has increased in prevalence, no evidence-based return-to-play (RTP) criteria have been developed to ensure an athlete's preparedness for sporting activities.

PURPOSE

To determine if there exists sufficient evidence in the literature to support an RTP protocol and functional assessment after hip arthroscopy, as well as to assess the mean rate and duration of RTP.

STUDY DESIGN

Systematic review and meta-analysis.

METHODS

The search terms "hip arthroscopy," "return to play," and 10 related terms were searched in PubMed, Cochrane Library, Scopus, and Web of Science, yielding 263 articles. After screening, 22 articles were included. RTP timeline, rehabilitation protocols, and conditional criteria measures were assessed with previously established criteria. Pooled estimates were calculated for RTP rate and duration, and weighted mean scores were determined for PROs.

RESULTS

A total of 1296 patients with 1442 total hips were identified. Although 54.5% (12 of 22) of studies did not provide a guideline for RTP duration after hip arthroscopy, 36.4% (8 of 22) recommended a duration of 4 months, while 9.1% (2 of 22) recommended 3 months. The most frequently described postoperative rehabilitation protocols were weightbearing guidelines (15 studies) and passive motion exercises (9 studies). Only 2 studies satisfied the criteria for a sufficient RTP protocol, and 3 provided a specific replicable test for RTP. The mean RTP duration was 7.4 months (95% CI, 6.1-8.8 months), and the return rate was 84.6% (95% CI, 80.4%-88.8%; P = .008) at a mean ± SD follow-up of 25.8 ± 2.4 months. Mean modified Harris Hip Score (mHHS) improved from 63.1 to 84.1 postoperatively (+33.3%), while Non-arthritic Hip Score improved from 61.7 to 86.8 (+40.7%). A lower preoperative mHHS was significantly associated with a higher postoperative improvement ( r = -0.95, P = .0003).

CONCLUSION

Significant variability exists in RTP protocols among institutions owing to a lack of standardization. Despite a high overall rate of RTP and improvement in PROs after hip arthroscopy, the majority of rehabilitation protocols are not evidence based and rely on expert opinion. No validated functional test currently exists to assess RTP.

Career Length and Performance Among Professional Baseball Players Returning to Play After Hip Arthroscopy

BACKGROUND

Hip arthroscopy has been shown to be effective for management of symptomatic femoroacetabular impingement (FAI) in professional athletes; however, it is unclear how hip arthroscopy affects career length and performance when professional baseball players return to play.

PURPOSE

To determine the career length, performance, and return-to-play rates of professional baseball players after undergoing arthroscopy for symptomatic FAI.

STUDY DESIGN

Case series; Level of evidence, 4.

METHODS

Forty-four professional baseball players (51 hips) underwent hip arthroscopy for FAI between 2000 and 2015 by a single surgeon. Data were retrieved for each player from MLB.com , MiLB.com , Baseballreference.com , and individual team websites. Age, surgical procedure, and intraoperative findings were also used in analysis. Return to play was defined as playing in a preseason or regular season major or minor league game after arthroscopy. Career length was measured as total years played before and after arthroscopy. Performance measures included earned run average for pitchers, batting average for position players, and games played for all players.

RESULTS

Of the 44 players, there were 21 pitchers and 23 position players. Ninety-five percent (n = 42) were able to return to professional baseball after hip arthroscopy. The mean career length for all players was 9.5 years. The mean career length after return to play was 3.6 seasons (range, 1-14 seasons). Pitchers had a mean career length of 8.7 years (3.3 after surgery), and position players averaged a career length of 10 years (3.9 after surgery). There were no differences in performance measures between preinjury and postoperative values.

CONCLUSION

Professional baseball players undergoing hip arthroscopy for FAI returned to sport and had similar performance as they did before injury. The average career length was 9.5 years. In our study cohort, more pitchers than position players underwent hip arthroscopy. Hip arthroscopy appears to be an effective surgical intervention, allowing for return to play after complete recovery.

Midterm Outcomes and Return to Sports Among Athletes Undergoing Hip Arthroscopy

BACKGROUND

Hip arthroscopy is an established surgical treatment for pathologic hip conditions in athletes. There is a paucity in the literature regarding outcomes and return to sport for athletes in the midterm.

PURPOSE

To report minimum 5-year outcomes, return to sport, and level of sport among athletic patients who underwent hip arthroscopy. In addition, we compared 2- and 5-year outcomes to evaluate whether there is a deterioration in functional status.

STUDY DESIGN

Case series; Level of evidence, 4.

METHODS

Data were prospectively collected on all patients who underwent hip arthroscopy between February 2009 and November 2011 at 1 institution. Athletes at the high school, collegiate, or professional level who underwent hip arthroscopy and had preoperative patient-reported outcome (PRO) scores were considered for inclusion. Exclusion criteria were preoperative Tönnis grade >1 or prior ipsilateral hip conditions or surgery. Data on sports participation, competition level, and ability were collected. At a minimum of 5 years postoperatively, PROs, visual analog scale (VAS), iHOT-12 (short version of International Hip Outcome Tool), satisfaction, and postoperative complication data were collected.

RESULTS

Seventy-seven hips met all criteria, among which 66 (85.7%) had a minimum 5-year follow-up and were included. There were 37 high school, 20 collegiate, and 9 professional athletes. Mean ± SD improvements at a minimum of 5 years were as follows: modified Harris Hip Score, 66.8 ± 16.3 to 87.0 ± 14.8 ( P < .001); nonarthritic hip score, 66.2 ± 19.9 to 87.2 ± 15.2 ( P < .001); Hip Outcome Score-Sports Specific Subscale, 47.0 ± 22.4 to 79.1 ± 23.0 ( P < .001); and VAS, 5.4 ± 2.5 to 1.8 ± 2.1 ( P < .001). At latest follow-up, mean iHOT-12 was 78.8 ± 22.7, and satisfaction was 8.2. A total of 50 athletes (53 hips, 80.3%) reported that they returned to sports; 71.2% reported "same" or "higher" sport ability as compared with a year before surgery. Postoperative complications included 3 cases (4.5%) of numbness and 1 case (1.5%) of pulmonary embolism. Ten hips (15.2%) required secondary arthroscopies, and no hips were converted to total hip arthroplasty. There were no significant differences between 2- and 5-year PROs, VAS, or satisfaction.

CONCLUSION

Midterm results of hip arthroscopy in athletes are shown to be safe and favorable. Most athletes return to sports and continue to play after 5 years with the same or higher ability.

High Rate of Return to Swimming After Hip Arthroscopy for Femoroacetabular Impingement

PURPOSE

To evaluate patients' ability to return to swimming after hip arthroscopy for femoroacetabular impingement syndrome (FAIS) with capsular closure.

METHODS

Consecutive FAIS patients who had undergone hip arthroscopy for the treatment of FAIS by a single fellowship-trained surgeon were reviewed. The inclusion criteria included patients with a diagnosis of FAIS who self-reported being swimming athletes with a minimum clinical follow-up duration of 2 years. For all patients, we assessed demographic data; preoperative physical examination findings, imaging findings, and patient-reported outcome (PRO) scores including the modified Harris Hip Score, Hip Outcome Score-Activities of Daily Living subscale, Hip Outcome Score-Sports-Specific subscale, and visual analog scale for pain; and postoperative examination findings and PROs at a minimum of 2 years after surgery, including a swimming-specific questionnaire.

RESULTS

The study included 26 patients (62% female patients; average age, 31.3 ± 7.2 years; average body mass index, 24.2 ± 2.7 kg/m²). Preoperatively, 24 patients (92%) were unable to swim at their preinjury level, and swimming was either decreased or discontinued entirely at an average of 6.0 ± 4.0 months before surgery. All 26 patients (100%) returned to swimming at an average of 3.4 ± 1.7 months after surgery, including 14 (54%) who returned at a higher level of performance than their preoperative state, 10 (38%) who returned to the same level, and 2 (7%) who returned at a lower level. The ability to return at a higher level of performance was not associated with age (P = .81), sex (P = .62), or body mass index (P = .16). At an average of 31.2 ± 4.95 months' follow-up, postoperative PRO scores improved significantly from preoperative values (Hip Outcome Score-Activities of Daily Living subscale from 68.5 ± 19.9 to 93.9 ± 5.7, P < .0001; Hip Outcome Score-Sports-Specific subscale from 44.0 ± 21.0 to 85.2 ± 16, P < .0001; and modified Harris Hip Score from 59.5 ± 12.1 to 94 ± 8.6, P < .0001). The average patient satisfaction level was 93% ± 9%.

CONCLUSIONS

Recreational and amateur swimmers return to swimming 100% of the time after hip arthroscopy for FAIS, with just over half returning at a higher level, and most of these patients return within 4 months after surgery. This information is critical in counseling patients on their expectations with respect to returning to swimming after hip arthroscopy for FAIS.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Level IV, case series.

Editorial Commentary: Don't Forgot the Hip in Swimmers and Multisport Athletes

Swimming results in significant and repetitive stress on the hip as well as other joints, and hip pain in swimmers should not be ignored. Stretching and strengthening are the mainstays of injury prevention, and recent literature supports that when indicated, femoroacetabular impingement surgical treatment in swimmers results in excellent outcomes including return to sport and frequently at a level of performance superior to pre-injury status.

The Hospital for Special Surgery Pediatric Functional Activity Brief Scale (HSS Pedi-FABS): Normative Data

BACKGROUND

Recent data have shown an increase in youth sports participation at younger ages, which may be linked to greater musculoskeletal injury risk. The Hospital for Special Surgery Pediatric Functional Activity Brief Scale (HSS Pedi-FABS) is a validated 8-item instrument designed to quantify the activity of children between 10 and 18 years old. Normative data on pediatric and adolescent activity level are unknown.

PURPOSE

To establish normative activity-level data for American youth and to determine if there is a natural decrease in activity level during adolescence.

STUDY DESIGN

Cross-sectional study; Level of evidence, 3.

METHODS

A cross-sectional investigation was performed among 2002 US children and adolescents equally split by sex and age and representing census-weighted distributions of state of residency, race/ethnicity, and health insurance status. Respondents completed the HSS Pedi-FABS, as well as survey questions on demographics and sports participation. Normative data were reported with descriptive statistics. Linear regression analysis was performed to determine if there was an effect of age on activity level during adolescence.

RESULTS

A total of 2002 respondents completed the survey; the mean age of the respondents at the time of survey completion was 14.0 ± 2.6 years. Mean weekly amount of reported physical activity was 9.3 ± 8.4 hours. HSS Pedi-FABS scores were normally distributed with a mean of 15.4 ± 8.5 points (out of 30 possible points). There was a modest but statistically significant decrease in HSS Pedi-FABS activity scores with increasing age ( r = -0.175, P < .001), corresponding to a linear decrease in activity scores by 27% on average from age 10 to 18 years.

CONCLUSION

The current study provides baseline normative data for activity level in a census-weighted representative population sample of 2002 American youth through the use of a validated activity score (HSS Pedi-FABS). There was a modest but statistically significant decrease in activity scores with increasing age. These results will aid future research by providing normative, representative population-level activity data and will help to quantify the natural rate of decreased activity during adolescence.

Prevalence and Consistency in Surgical Outcome Reporting for Femoroacetabular Impingement Syndrome: A Scoping Review

PURPOSE

The purposes of this review were (1) to collate and synthesize research studies reporting any outcome measure on both open and arthroscopic surgical treatment of femoroacetabular impingement (FAI) syndrome and (2) to report the prevalence and consistency of outcomes across the included studies.

METHODS

A computer-assisted literature search of the MEDLINE, CINAHL (Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature), and Embase databases was conducted using keywords related to FAI syndrome and both open and arthroscopic surgical outcomes, resulting in 2,614 studies, with 163 studies involving 14,824 subjects meeting the inclusion criteria. Two authors independently reviewed study inclusion and data extraction with independent verification. The prevalence of reported outcomes was calculated and verified by separate authors.

RESULTS

Between 2004 and 2016, there has been a 2,600% increase in the publication of surgical outcome studies. Patients had a mean duration of symptoms of 27.7 ± 21.5 months before surgery. Arthroscopy was the surgical treatment used in 71% of studies. The mean final follow-up period after surgery was 32.2 ± 17.3 months. Follow-up time frames were reported in 78% of studies. Ten different patient-reported outcome measures were reported. The alpha angle was reported to be measured 42% less frequently as a surgical outcome than as a surgical indication. Surgical complications were addressed in only 53% of studies and failures in 69%. Labral pathology (91% of studies reporting) and chondral pathology (61%) were the primary coexisting pathologies reported. Clinical signs, as defined by the Warwick Agreement on FAI syndrome, were reported in fewer than 25% of studies.

CONCLUSIONS

Most FAI syndrome patients have longstanding pain and potential coexisting pathology. Patient-reported outcome measures and diagnostic imaging are the most frequently reported outcomes. Measures of hip strength and range of motion are under-reported. It is unclear whether the inconsistency in reporting is because of lack of measurement or lack of reporting of specific outcomes in these studies. Current surgical outcomes are limited to mid-term surgical follow-up time frames and inconsistent outcome reporting.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Level IV, systematic review of Level I through IV studies.

Femoroacetabular impingement surgery allows 74% of athletes to return to the same competitive level of sports participation but their level of performance remains unreported: a systematic review with meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Femoroacetabular impingement (FAI) syndrome is one source of hip pain that can limit sport participation among athletes.

OBJECTIVE

To summarise the return to sport (RTS) rate for athletes after surgery for FAI syndrome.

METHODS

A computer-assisted search of MEDLINE, the Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL) and EMBASE databases was performed using keywords related to RTS and RTS at preinjury level (RTS_PRE) of competition for FAI syndrome. The risk of bias in the included studies was assessed using the Methodological Index for Non-Randomized Studies scale.

RESULTS

35 studies (1634 athletes/1828 hips) qualified for analysis. Based on evidence of limited to moderate strength (level 3b to 4 studies), athletes return to sport at preinjury level post surgery for FAI syndrome at a rate of only 74% (67%-81%). Only 37% of studies reported RTS_PRE. The mean time from surgery to RTS was 7.0±2.6 months. The mean follow-up postsurgery was 28.1±15.5 months. Professional athletes returned to sport (p=0.0002) (although not the preinjury sport level; p=0.63) at a higher rate than collegiate athletes. Only 14% of studies reported on athletic presurgery and postsurgery athletic performance, which means it is impossible to comment on whether athletes return to their previous level of performance or not. No studies reported on the specific criteria used to permit players to return to sport. 20% of studies reported on career longevity, 51% reported surgical complications and 77% reported on surgical failures.

CONCLUSION

There was limited to moderate evidence that one in four athletes did not return to their previous level of sport participation after surgery for FAI syndrome. Only 37% of the included studies clearly distinguished RTS from RTS_PRE. Poor outcome reporting on athletic performance postsurgery makes it difficult to determine to what level of performance these athletes actually perform. Thus, if a player asks a surgeon 'Will I get back to my previous level of performance?' there are presently little to no published data from which to base an answer.

PROSPERO REGISTRATION NUMBER

CRD42017072762.

High Rate of Return to Yoga for Athletes After Hip Arthroscopy for Femoroacetabular Impingement Syndrome

Background:

Femoroacetabular impingement syndrome (FAIS) is most commonly diagnosed in patients who perform activities that require repetitive hip flexion and rotational loading. Yoga is an activity growing in popularity that involves these motions. The purpose of this study was to evaluate patients’ ability to return to yoga after hip arthroscopy for FAIS.

Hypothesis:

There would be a high rate of return to yoga after hip arthroscopy.

Study Design:

Retrospective analysis.

Level of Evidence:

Level 4.

Methods:

Consecutive patients with FAIS who had identified themselves as participating in yoga and had undergone hip arthroscopy for the treatment of FAIS between 2012 and 2015 were reviewed. Demographic data were collected and assessed for all patients, as well as preoperative physical examination, imaging, and patient-reported outcome (PRO) scores, including the modified Harris Hip Score (mHHS), Hip Outcome Score Activities of Daily Living (HOS-ADL) and Sports-Specific (HOS-SS) subscales, and visual analog scale (VAS) for pain. Postoperatively, examination and PRO data were collected at a minimum 1 year after surgery, including a yoga-specific questionnaire.

Results:

A total of 42 patients (90% female; mean age, 35 ± 9 years; mean body mass index, 23.1 ± 3.2 kg/m²) were included. Thirty patients (71%) had to discontinue their yoga routine preoperatively because of hip-related symptoms at a mean 9.5 ± 8.2 months before surgery. After surgery, 39 patients (93%) were able to return to yoga at a mean 5.3 ± 2.2 months after surgery. Two of the 3 patients who did not return to yoga noted loss of interest as their reason for stopping, while 1 patient was unable to return because of persistent hip pain. Nineteen patients (45%) returned to a higher level of yoga practice, 17 patients (40%) returned to the same level, and 3 patients (7%) returned to a lower level. There was no difference in the number of hours spent practicing yoga per week pre- and postoperatively (2.7 ± 1.9 vs 2.5 ± 1.3 hours; P = 0.44). All patients demonstrated significant improvement in all PROs as well as pain scores after surgery (HOS-ADL, 67.4 ± 18.3 to 93.1 ± 6.9 [P < 0.001]; HOS-SS, 45.6 ± 24.7 to 81.5 ± 18.8 [P < 0.001]; mHHS, 62.3 ± 11.3 to 86.8 ± 12.3 [P < 0.0001]; VAS pain, 6.3 ± 2.2 to 0.90 ± 1.1 [P < 0.001]).

Conclusion:

Patients participating in yoga return to yoga 93% of the time and at a mean 5.3 ± 2.2 months after hip arthroscopy for FAIS.

Clinical Relevance:

Information regarding surgical outcomes is critical in counseling patients, particularly female athletes, on their expectations with respect to returning to yoga after hip arthroscopy for FAIS.

Return to Play After Hip Arthroscopic Surgery for Femoroacetabular Impingement in Professional Soccer Players

BACKGROUND

Arthroscopic hip surgery has been shown to be effective in returning professional athletes back to play at a high level of performance in different sports. Limited information exists regarding professional soccer players and their return to play.

PURPOSE

To determine the rate and time to return to sport for professional soccer players after hip arthroscopic surgery for the treatment of femoroacetabular impingement (FAI) and to identify possible risk factors associated with a delay in returning to play.

STUDY DESIGN

Case series; Level of evidence, 4.

METHODS

Professional soccer players who underwent hip arthroscopic surgery for FAI by a single surgeon between 2005 and 2015 were evaluated. Data retrieved from www.mlssoccer.com , www.fifa.com , www.transfermarkt.co.uk , and www.wikipedia.org included information on each player's professional career, participation on the national team, length of professional career before surgery, number of appearances (games) before surgery, time between surgery and first appearance in a professional game, and number of appearances after surgery. Other data were obtained from the patient's medical records.

RESULTS

Twenty-four professional soccer players (26 hips) were included. The mean age at surgery was 25.0 ± 4.0 years (range, 19-32 years). A total of 96% of patients were able to return to play at the professional level. The mean time between surgery and the first professional game played was 9.2 months (range, 1.9-24.0 months). On average, players played in 70 games after surgery (range, 0-224). National team players were able to return to play significantly earlier than the rest of the players (median, 5.7 months vs 11.6 months, respectively; P = .018). Severe chondral damage and microfracture did not interfere with return to play.

CONCLUSION

The arthroscopic management of FAI in symptomatic professional soccer players allowed 96% of them to return to play. Players with national team experience were able to return to play earlier than those without it. Severe chondral damage and microfracture did not interfere with return to play.

Characteristics and Outcomes of Arthroscopic Femoroacetabular Impingement Surgery in the National Football League

BACKGROUND

Previous studies have reported that hip abnormalities may account for 10% of injuries in professional football players. The effect of femoroacetabular impingement (FAI) and arthroscopic FAI surgery in National Football League (NFL) athletes has not been well studied.

PURPOSE

To investigate the effect of arthroscopic FAI surgery on return to play (RTP) and RTP performance in NFL players.

STUDY DESIGN

Cohort study; Level of evidence, 3.

METHODS

NFL athletes undergoing arthroscopic FAI surgery at a single institution between 2006 and 2014 were identified. Medical records were reviewed for demographic, clinical, and operative variables. RTP and RTP performance were assessed based on a review of publicly available NFL player statistics. RTP and RTP performance data included time to RTP; games played before and after the injury; yearly total yards and touchdowns for offensive players; and yearly total tackles, sacks, and interceptions for defensive players. The offensive power rating (OPR = [total yards/10] + [total touchdowns × 6]) and defensive power rating (DPR = total tackles + [total sacks × 2] + [total interceptions × 2]) were calculated. Paired t tests comparing preinjury and postinjury seasons were performed. A matched cohort of NFL players was created to compare trends for OPR, DPR, and career longevity.

RESULTS

Forty-eight hips in 40 NFL players (mean age, 25.6 years) with symptomatic FAI were included; 8 players underwent staged bilateral hip arthroscopic procedures. The majority of players were offensive (n = 24; 60.0%), with offensive lineman (n = 11; 27.5%) being the most common of all positions. Of the 48 included hips, all had labral tears, and 41 (85.4%) underwent labral repair. Forty-two of the 48 hips (87.5%) underwent cam decompression, and 10 (20.8%) underwent rim decompression. Of the 40 included players, 37 (92.5%) achieved RTP to professional competition after their hip arthroscopic surgery at a mean of 6.0 months. Before the injury, included patients played in a mean of 11.0 games compared with 9.5 games in their postoperative season ( P = .26). The mean OPR and DPR demonstrated a nonsignificant decline in the postoperative season (preinjury OPR, 40.2; postinjury OPR, 32.3; P = .34) (preinjury DPR, 49.6; postinjury DPR, 36.4; P = .10). A similar decline in the OPR and DPR across seasons was observed in the control group. NFL athletes played, on average, 3.3 ± 1.5 seasons after undergoing hip arthroscopic surgery; this was not significantly different from the controls (2.5 ± 1.5 seasons; P = .47). There was no significant difference in mean annual salaries based on contracts negotiated before the injury and the first negotiated contract after surgery ($3.3 million vs $3.6 million, respectively; P = .58).

CONCLUSION

There was a very high rate of RTP in the NFL after arthroscopic FAI surgery; this rate is higher than what has been previously reported for other orthopaedic procedures in NFL athletes. Additionally, these NFL athletes achieved RTP at a faster time frame (6 months) than previously reported for other procedures. These findings have important implications for counseling elite football players about the expected outcome of arthroscopic FAI surgery.

High Rate of Return to Cycling After Hip Arthroscopy for Femoroacetabular Impingement Syndrome

Background:

Femoroacetabular impingement syndrome (FAIS) is most commonly diagnosed in athletes who sustain repetitive flexion and rotational loading to their hip. The purpose of this study was to evaluate a patient’s ability to return to cycling after hip arthroscopy for FAIS.

Hypothesis:

There is a high rate of return to cycling after hip arthroscopy.

Study Design:

Retrospective analysis.

Level of Evidence:

Level 4.

Methods:

Consecutive patients who had identified themselves as cyclists and had undergone hip arthroscopy for the treatment of FAIS were reviewed. Pre- and postoperative physical examinations, imaging, and patient-reported outcomes (PROs) scores, including the modified Harris Hip Score (mHHS), Hip Outcome Score Activities of Daily Living (HOS-ADL) and Sports-Specific (HOS-SS) subscales, and visual analog scale for pain, as well as a cycling-specific questionnaire, were assessed for all patients.

Results:

A total of 58 patients (62% female; mean age, 30.0 ± 7.1 years; mean body mass index, 23.2 ± 2.7 kg/m²) were included. Prior to surgery, patients averaged 30 ± 42 miles per week (range, 2-300 miles). Fifty-five patients (95%) were forced to discontinue cycling at an average of 7.5 ± 6.2 months prior to surgery due to hip pain. Fifty-six patients (97%) returned to cycling at an average of 4.5 ± 2.5 months after surgery, with 33 (59%) returning to a better level of cycling and 23 (41%) to the same cycling level. Postoperatively, there was no difference in the average number of miles patients completed per week compared with preoperative values (P = 0.08). At a mean follow-up of 31.14 ± 0.71 months (range, 24-48 months), all patients experienced significant improvements in mHHS, HOS-ADL, and HOS-SS PROs (all P < 0.0001), with an overall satisfaction rate of 91% ± 13%.

Conclusion:

Recreational and competitive cyclists return to cycling 97% of the time after hip arthroscopy for FAIS, with most of these patients returning at an average of 4.5 months after surgery. This information is helpful in counseling patients on their expectations with regard to returning to cycling after hip arthroscopy for FAIS.

Clinical Relevance:

Cyclists return to sport 97% of the time at an average of 4.5 months after hip arthroscopy for FAIS.

Efficacy of adding a physiotherapy rehabilitation programme to arthroscopic management of femoroacetabular impingement syndrome: a randomised controlled trial (FAIR)

OBJECTIVES

Although several rehabilitation programmes following hip arthroscopy for femoracetabular impingement (FAI) syndrome have been described, there are no clinical trials evaluating whether formal physiotherapy-prescribed rehabilitation improves recovery compared with self-directed rehabilitation. The objective of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of adding a physiotherapist-prescribed rehabilitation programme to arthroscopic surgery for FAI syndrome.

DESIGN

Randomised controlled trial.

METHODS

People aged ≥16 years with FAI syndrome scheduled for hip arthroscopy were recruited and randomly allocated to physiotherapy (PT) or control. The PT group received seven PT sessions (one preoperative and six postoperative) incorporating education, manual therapy and a progressive rehabilitation programme of home, aquatic and gym exercises while the control group did not undertake PT rehabilitation. Measurements were taken at baseline (2 weeks presurgery) and 14 and 24 weeks postsurgery. The primary outcomes were the International Hip Outcome Tool (iHOT-33) and the sport subscale of the Hip Outcome Score (HOS) at week 14.

RESULTS

Due to slower than expected recruitment and funding constraints, recruitment was ceased after 23 months. Thirty participants (14 PT and 16 control) were randomised and 28 (14 PT and 14 control; 93%) and 22 (11 PT and 11 control; 73%) completed week 14 and 24 measurements, respectively. For the 14-week primary outcomes, the PT group showed significantly greater improvements on the iHOT-33 (mean difference 14.2 units; 95% CI 1.2 to 27.2) and sport subscale of the HOS (13.8 units; 95% CI 0.3 to 27.3). There were no significant between-group differences at week 24.

CONCLUSIONS

An individual PT treatment and rehabilitation programme may augment improvements in patient-reported outcomes following arthroscopy for FAI syndrome. However, given the small sample size, larger trials are needed to validate the findings.

TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER

Trial registered with the Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry :ACTRN12613000282785, Results.