Pediatric Hip Arthroscopy: a Review of Indications and Treatment Outcomes

The use of hip arthroscopy has expanded substantially over the last decade, including in pediatric and adolescent populations. Indications for hip arthroscopy in the pediatric population continue to be refined and research of outcomes following hip arthroscopy has increased. The purpose of this review is to provide an overview of current indications for hip arthroscopy in the pediatric population and the outcomes for each indication.

Hip arthroscopy is used in the treatment of a range of pediatric hip conditions, spanning from the infant to young adult. In femoroacetabular impingement, hip arthroscopy in young adolescents has shown improvement in patient-reported outcome measures, high return to sport rates, and low complications. Intra-articular hip pathology secondary to Legg-Calve-Perthes and the persistent deformities following slipped capital femoral epiphysis can be managed with primary hip arthroscopy, and outcomes show significant improvements in patient-reported outcomes. Arthroscopy can be used safely as a reduction aid in developmental hip dysplasia, and as a primary treatment for borderline hip dysplasia in adolescents. In septic hip arthritis, arthroscopic drainage is a safe and effective treatment. Hip arthroscopy is used in the pediatric and adolescent population in the management of femoroacetabular impingement, Legg-Calve-Perthes disease, the sequelae of slipped capital femoral epiphysies, developmental hip dysplasia, and septic arthritis. Research for each of these conditions shows that arthroscopy is a safe and effective treatment when performed for the correct indications, and results are comparable to open surgical options.