Outcomes of Staged Bilateral Hip Arthroscopic Surgery in the Context of Femoroacetabular Impingement Syndrome: A Nested Matched-Pair Control Study Focusing on the Effect of Time Between Procedures

Outcomes of Staged Bilateral Hip Arthroscopic Surgery in the Context of Femoroacetabular Impingement Syndrome: A Nested Matched-Pair Control Study Focusing on the Effect of Time Between Procedures

Authors

Ankem HK, Diulus SC, Kyin C, Jimenez AE, Saks BR, Sabetian PW, Maldonado DR, Lall AC, Domb BG

Journal

Am J Sports Med, September 2022

Background

This study evaluates the outcomes of staged bilateral hip arthroscopic surgery in patients with femoroacetabular impingement syndrome (FAIS) and compares them to patients who undergo unilateral surgery. It also examines how the time between procedures impacts recovery.

Methods

• 205 patients who underwent staged bilateral surgery for FAIS were compared to a matched group who underwent unilateral surgery.
• Data included patient-reported outcomes (PROs) like the modified Harris Hip Score (mHHS), Hip Outcome Score-Sports Specific Subscale (HOS-SSS), and pain levels.

Key Findings

• Both groups showed similar significant improvements in PROs at the 2-year follow-up.
• Time between surgeries (<3 months vs >3 months) did not significantly affect outcomes.

Conclusions

Bilateral hip arthroscopic surgery can yield excellent outcomes, with recovery comparable to unilateral surgery. The timing of the second procedure does not appear to influence the final result.

What Does This Mean For Patients

If you require hip surgery on both sides, whether you have the surgeries close together or spaced out doesn't seem to affect your overall recovery.