Midterm Outcomes of Primary Hip Arthroscopy in Athletes Older Than Age 40: A Propensity-Matched Controlled Study
Authors
Schab AR, McCarroll TR, Walsh EG, Kahana-Rojkind AH, Quesada-Jimenez R, Domb BG.
Background
Some patients over age 40 remain very active in sports and may still undergo hip arthroscopy. These patients are sometimes called “master athletes.” Researchers wanted to see how they do compared to non-athletes of similar age.
Methods
This study followed patients who had hip arthroscopy for hip impingement and compared active athletes over 40 to non-athletes over at least 5 years.
Key Findings
Both groups improved significantly after surgery. Active older athletes had slightly better overall hip scores before and after surgery. Both groups improved by a similar amount after surgery. More athletes reached meaningful improvement in their symptoms. Athletes were more likely to avoid needing a hip replacement in the long term.
Conclusion
Hip arthroscopy can provide strong and lasting results even in patients over 40 who remain active in sports.
What Does This Mean For Patients
If you are over 40 and still active in sports, you can still expect good results from hip arthroscopy. In this study, active patients often did as well or better than non-athletes and were less likely to need hip replacement later on.