Basketball Players Undergoing Primary Hip Arthroscopy Exhibit Higher Grades of Acetabular Cartilage Damage but Achieve Favorable Midterm Outcomes and Return to Sports Rates Comparable With a Propensity-Matched Group of Other Cutting Sports Athletes

Basketball Players Undergoing Primary Hip Arthroscopy Exhibit Higher Grades of Acetabular Cartilage Damage but Achieve Favorable Midterm Outcomes and Return to Sports Rates Comparable With a Propensity-Matched Group of Other Cutting Sports Athletes

Authors

Owens JS, Jimenez AE, Lee MS, Hawkins GC, Maldonado DR, Domb BG

Journal

Am J Sports Med, June 2022

Background

Basketball players undergo significant physical strain, which may lead to more severe intra-articular damage. This study compares the outcomes of basketball players with other athletes participating in cutting sports.

Methods

• 28 competitive basketball players undergoing primary hip arthroscopy for femoroacetabular impingement syndrome (FAIS) were included.
• These players were matched with athletes from sports like soccer, lacrosse, and tennis.
• Patient-reported outcomes (PROs) and return-to-sport (RTS) rates were measured at a minimum 5-year follow-up.

Key Findings

• Basketball players showed more severe acetabular labrum and cartilage damage than other athletes but had similar midterm outcomes and RTS rates.
• Both groups demonstrated significant improvements in PROs, with high rates of returning to sport.
• Basketball players exhibited slightly lower outcomes for acetabular cartilage damage but similar overall results.

Conclusions

Despite more severe cartilage damage, basketball players undergoing hip arthroscopy for FAIS showed favorable outcomes and comparable RTS rates to athletes from other cutting sports.

What Does This Mean For Patients

If you're a basketball player with hip pain, hip arthroscopy offers a promising option with high rates of recovery and return to sport, even if you have more cartilage damage.