Open surgical dislocation versus arthroscopy for femoroacetabular impingement: a comparison of clinical outcomes

Open surgical dislocation versus arthroscopy for femoroacetabular impingement: a comparison of clinical outcomes

Authors

Botser IB, Smith TW Jr, Nasser R, Domb BG
DOI: 10.1016/j.arthro.2010.11.008

Purpose

To compare the clinical outcomes of three surgical approaches for treating femoroacetabular impingement (FAI): arthroscopy, open surgical dislocation, and combined approaches.

Methods

A systematic review of 26 studies including 1,462 hips was conducted. Outcomes such as improvement in modified Harris Hip Score, complication rates, and return to sport were analyzed.

Key Findings

• Arthroscopy accounted for 62% of cases and had the greatest average functional improvement (26.4 points).
• Labral repair was more frequently performed in open and combined approaches.
• Arthroscopy had the lowest complication rate (1.7%) compared to open (9.2%) and combined (16%).
• Athletes were more likely to return to sport after arthroscopy.

Conclusion

All surgical approaches improved patient outcomes, but arthroscopy showed the greatest benefits in terms of recovery time, complication rate, and return to sport.

What this means for patients

If you're being treated for FAI, arthroscopy may offer faster recovery and fewer risks than more invasive surgeries, especially for athletes or active individuals.