Surgical Dislocation of the Hip Versus Arthroscopic Treatment of Femoroacetabular Impingement: A Prospective Matched-Pair Study with Average 2-Year Follow-up
Authors
Domb BG, Stake CE, Botser IB, Jackson TJ
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.arthro.2013.06.010
Purpose
To compare outcomes between open surgical dislocation and arthroscopic treatment of femoroacetabular impingement (FAI) in young patients using a prospective, matched-pair design.
Methods
10 patients underwent surgical dislocation and were matched 1:2 to 20 patients treated arthroscopically. All were ≤30 years old and followed for an average of ~25 months. Patient-reported outcomes and radiographic alpha angles were analyzed.
Key Findings
Both groups showed significant improvement. However, the arthroscopy group had better outcomes in Hip Outcome Score–Sport-Specific Subscale (42.8 vs. 23.5, p = .047) and Non-Arthritic Hip Score at 2 years (94.2 vs. 85.7, p = .01).
Conclusion
While both procedures are effective, arthroscopy offers superior functional improvement in sport-related activities at two years post-op.
What This Means for Patients
For young patients with FAI, arthroscopic surgery may be a better first-line surgical option, offering less invasive treatment with excellent outcomes and quicker recovery.