Obese Patients Treated by Hip Arthroscopy for Femoroacetabular Impingement Syndrome - 10-Year Functional Outcomes and Conversion Rates to Arthroplasty Compared With Normal-Weight Patients
Authors
Quesada-Jimenez R, McCarroll TR, Schab AR, Kahana-Rojkind AH, Sikligar D, Domb BG.
Background
Hip arthroscopy is commonly used to treat hip impingement and labral tears. Researchers wanted to understand how body weight affects long-term outcomes after surgery.
Methods
This study compared patients with obesity to patients with normal body weight who had hip arthroscopy. Patients were followed for at least 10 years.
Key Findings
- Both groups had significant and lasting improvement in pain and hip function after surgery.
- Patients with obesity improved similarly in terms of pain relief and function compared to normal-weight patients.
- However, patients with obesity were more likely to eventually need a hip replacement.
- Patients with very high levels of obesity were less likely to reach “ideal” recovery goals.
Conclusion
Hip arthroscopy can provide long-term benefit for patients with obesity, but there is a higher chance of needing hip replacement in the future.
What Does This Mean For Patients
If you have obesity and are considering hip arthroscopy, you can still expect meaningful improvement in pain and function. However, there is a higher chance that the hip may wear out over time and eventually require replacement, especially with higher levels of obesity.