Running is a demanding sporting activity, whether at professional or amateur level. Runners not uncommonly develop problems in the region of the hip because of a tear of the labrum of the acetabulum, with or without femoroacetabular impingement syndrome. The medium-term results and the rate of return to running in such patients who have undergone hip arthroscopy are not known. A recent study set out to shed light on this question by presenting data on such patients.
Data were collected prospectively from patients who underwent hip arthroscopy between July 2008 and November 2011. Patients with osteoarthritis or previous operations in the hip region were excluded. The patients in the study were middle- or long-distance runners before surgery and intended to return to running postoperatively. Patient-reported outcome scores were collected preoperatively and five years postoperatively. The scores used were the modified Harris Hip Score, the Non-arthritic Hip Score, the Hip Outcome Score-Sports Specific Subscale and the Visual Analog Scale for pain.
60 patients (62 hips) were eligible for the study, of whom 50 had a minimum follow-up of five years. There were 10 male and 42 female hips. The age range was 14.9 to 62.4. The final review was carried out at a mean of 69.3 ± 8.5 months (range 60 to 92 months). In terms of activity level there were 39 recreational athletes, seven high-school athletes, four collegiate athletes and two professionals. A significant improvement was seen in all the outcome scores at the patients' final assessment. 39 patients (78%) returned to running postoperatively. Specifically, 79% of the recreational athletes, 100% of the high-school athletes, 50% of the collegiate athletes and 50% of the professional athletes returned.
The authors concluded that runners at every level show a significant increase in hip outcome scores and a low risk of complications. The rate of return to running is relatively high after hip arthroscopy in the medium term. Hip arthroscopy can be recommended for runners with symptoms of femoroacetabular impingement that are not relieved by conservative treatment.
Source: “American Journal of Sports Medicine”, April 2019
