Abstract
Background
Hip arthroscopy for femoroacetabular impingement (FAI) in professional athletes is associated with significant improvements in post-operative pain, function and a return to sport rate > 80%. However, the rate of return to sport following hip arthroscopy for FAI in professional athletes with borderline dysplasia is largely unknown.
Hypothesis/Purpose: The purpose of the current study was to assess return to sport rates exclusively in professional athletes with borderline dysplasia following hip arthroscopy for treatment of FAI.
Study Design
Retrospective Cohort
Methods
Forty (42 hips) professional and Olympic athletes with borderline dysplasia (lateral center edge angle (LCEA) 18-25 degrees) underwent hip arthroscopy for FAI between 2005-2022. Return to play was defined as competing in a single professional game of equal level after surgery. Data were retrospectively obtained for each athlete from publicly available sport-specific data sources.
Results
Of the 42 hips included in this study, 29 (69%, 95% CI [53%,82%]) returned to professional sport at a median of 7.5 months (Range: 3.1-24.3) post-operatively. The mean age at the time of surgery was 28.9 years (Range: 18-53.5). Twenty-one (50%) of the hips had an Outerbridge Grade 3 or 4 defect at the time of surgery, and 10 (24%) underwent a microfracture procedure. Older age (p=0.041) and history of previous hip arthroscopy (p=0.008) were associated with a lower likelihood of return to professional sport. There was no statistically significant association between femoral version, LCEA, alpha angle, the presence of Outerbridge Grade 3 or 4 defect, or minimum joint space and return to sport.
Conclusion
Professional athletes who undergo hip arthroscopy for FAI in the setting of underlying borderline hip dysplasia demonstrate a 69% return to sport rate at a median of 7.5 months post-operatively, with older age and history of prior hip arthroscopy predictive of lower likelihood of return to sport. Hip arthroscopy for FAI in professional athletes with borderline dysplasia is effective for returning the majority of these athletes to their preoperative level.