Return to Sports and Minimum 2-Year Outcomes of Bilateral Hip Arthroscopy in High-Level Athletes With a Propensity-Matched Benchmarking Against a Unilateral Control Group
Authors
Owens JS, Jimenez AE, Monahan PF, Maldonado DR, Kyin C, Saks BR, Ankem HK, Sabetian PW, Lall AC, Domb BG
Background
- Return to sports (RTS) after bilateral hip arthroscopy in high-level athletes has not been well studied. This research compares outcomes in athletes who underwent bilateral hip arthroscopy versus unilateral arthroscopy.
Methods
- The study tracked high-level athletes (professional, college, or high school) who underwent staged bilateral hip arthroscopy for femoroacetabular impingement syndrome (FAIS). They were compared with athletes who had unilateral arthroscopy.
Key Findings
- Athletes who underwent bilateral hip arthroscopy returned to sports at a high rate (81.7%) and showed significant improvements in pain and hip function.
- There were no significant differences in outcomes between bilateral and unilateral arthroscopy groups in terms of return to sports, pain relief, or improvement in hip function.
Conclusions
- Staged bilateral hip arthroscopy provides favorable outcomes for high-level athletes, with results similar to those of athletes who undergo unilateral hip surgery.
What Does This Mean for Patients
- If you're a high-level athlete facing hip issues on both sides, bilateral hip arthroscopy can lead to excellent outcomes, allowing you to return to sports just as effectively as unilateral surgery.