Arthroscopic treatment of femoroacetabular impingement: early outcomes

The aim of the study was to assess the early outcomes of the arthroscopic treatment of femoroacetabular impingement.

Forty-two femoroacetabular impingement (FAI) patients (mean age: 35.1 years, range: 16 to 52 years) treated arthroscopically between 2006 and 2011 in our clinic were retrospectively analyzed. Twenty-five patients had Cam, 6 Pincer and 11 combined femoroacetabular impingement. Mean follow-up time was 28.2 (range: 10 to 72) months. Patients were assessed clinically and functionally using the Non-Arthritic Hip Score (NAHS), modified Harris Hip Score (mHHS), Oxford Hip Score, WOMAC score, and Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) pain scores preoperatively and at the final follow-up.

In clinical and functional assessments, there were increases of 24.8 points in mean NAHS, 23.3 in mHHS, 20.6 in WOMAC score and 9.6 in Oxford Hip Score. VAS pain score decreased by 4.9 points in comparison to the preoperative scores. There were no major complications. However, transient pudendal nerve neuropraxia was present in two patients, transient lateral femoral cutaneous nerve neuropraxia in one and asymptomatic heterotopic ossification in one patient.

Short-term clinical results of the arthroscopic treatment of the FAI appear to be satisfactory.