Preoperative Predictors of Achieving Clinically Significant Athletic Functional Status After Hip Arthroscopy for Femoroacetabular Impingement at Minimum 2-Year Follow-Up Commentary
Femoroacetabular (hip) impingement syndrome (FAIS) is common medical condition that particularly effects young, active patients. In many cases, hip arthroscopy is indicated and has been evidenced as a successful procedure to return athletes to sport with high satisfaction ratings. However, preoperative predictors of clinical and functional improvements after hip arthroscopy are unclear. This study analyzed patient charts and histories of over 600 patients and found several factors which factors predicted clinically significant athletic functional outcomes after FAIS. These included a history of anxiety or depression, BMI, preoperative alpha angle (on radiographs), limp, femoral chondral damage, and most notably preoperative symptom duration. Specifically, a shorter duration of pain prior to treatment was a positive predictor of good outcomes. Results suggest there are both modifiable and nonmodifiable preoperative factors that have the potential to predict achieving high athletic function after hip arthroscopy for FAIS. If a patient is feeling symptoms that may be a result of FAIS, it is important to treat them as early as possible to optimize the success of the surgery. Furthermore, this study validated the preexisting literature as over 85% of patients achieved high functional status postoperatively and almost all athletes were able to return to playing sports.