Arthroscopic Management of Femoroacetabular Impingement: Current Concepts

Background: Femoroacetabular impingement (FAI) is a common cause of hip pain and dysfunction, especially in young and active individuals, and it may require surgical management for associated labral tears and cartilage damage. The management of FAI has advanced radically over the last few years, and hip arthroscopy has gained a leading role. However, despite the increasing number of published research and technological advancements, a comprehensive systematic review summarising current evidence is still missing. Methods: All the clinical studies investigating the arthroscopic management of FAI were accessed. Only studies with a minimum of six months of follow-up were considered. The 2020 PRISMA guidelines were followed. In December 2024, PubMed, Web of Science, and Embase were accessed without time constraints. Results: The present systematic review included 258 clinical investigations (57,803 patients). The mean length of follow-up was 34.2 ± 22.7 months. The mean age was 34.7 ± 5.3, and the mean BMI was 25.1 ± 2.0 kg/m². Conclusions: The present systematic review updates current evidence on patients who have undergone arthroscopic surgery for FAI, updating and discussing current progress in managing labral injuries and patient selection, emphasising outcomes and pitfalls. Progress in surgery and improvement in eligibility criteria, as well as current controversies and prospects, were also discussed.