Simultaneous versus staged bilateral hip arthroscopy for the treatment of femoroacetabular impingement

The purpose of this recently published study in the American journal “Arthroscopy” was to compare the clinical outcomes and complication rates in patients who underwent simultaneous versus staged bilateral hip arthroscopy for bilateral symptomatic femoroacetabular impingement.
Between 2010 and 2013, a total of 1,800 hip arthroscopies were analysed retrospectively for cases of simultaneous bilateral hip arthroscopy. All patients with a minimum follow-up of one year were included. The patient-reported scores included the Modified Harris Hip Score, the Hip Outcome Score–Activity of Daily Living and the Hip Outcome Score–Sport-Specific Subscale, obtained preoperatively, at six months and at one and two years postoperatively.
81 patients (162 hips) were identified who had undergone simultaneous bilateral hip arthroscopy for symptomatic femoroacetabular impingement. 12 patients (24 hips) underwent simultaneous bilateral hip arthroscopy with a minimum follow-up of one year and were compared with a cohort of 24 patients (48 hips) who underwent staged bilateral hip arthroscopy. In these patient groups, the alpha angle, the mean traction time during surgery, the results of the hip outcome scores and the complications were compared.
The authors concluded that, in a small sample, simultaneous bilateral hip arthroscopy appears to be safe and effective and results in a similar improvement in patient-reported outcomes at one-year follow-up compared with staged bilateral hip arthroscopy.
Source: "Arthroscopy", July 2016