Minimum 10-year Survivorship and Clinical Outcomes Following Primary Hip Arthroscopy with Acetabular Microfracture

Long-term Survivorship and Outcomes of Patients Without Dysplasia Undergoing Capsular Repair During Primary Hip Arthroscopy for Femoroacetabular Impingement Syndrome

BACKGROUND

There is a paucity of literature evaluating long-term outcomes and survivorship of patients undergoing primary hip arthroscopy with capsular repair for femoroacetabular impingement syndrome (FAIS).

PURPOSE

To report 10-year survivorship and patient-reported outcomes (PROs) after primary hip arthroscopy with capsular repair for FAIS and evaluate the effect of capsular repair in patients at the highest risk for conversion to arthroplasty.

STUDY DESIGN

Cohort study; Level of evidence, 3.

METHODS

Data were prospectively collected and retrospectively reviewed on all patients undergoing primary hip arthroscopy with capsular repair between October 2008 and February 2011. Patients with a minimum 10-year follow-up on the modified Harris Hip Score (mHHS), Nonarthritic Hip Score (NAHS), and visual analog scale for pain (VAS) scores were selected. The preoperative and minimum 10-year follow-up Hip Outcome Score-Sports Specific Subscale (HOS-SSS) scores were also reported, if available. Patients with ipsilateral hip surgery, worker's compensation, Tönnis osteoarthritis grade >1, and hip dysplasia (lateral center-edge angle <25°) were excluded. Survivorship, PROS, and clinical benefit-minimal clinically important difference (MCID) and Patient Acceptable Symptom State (PASS)-were reported. An additional propensity-matched subanalysis was performed on patients at the highest risk for conversion to arthroplasty, comparing patients undergoing capsular repair to patients with unrepaired capsules.

RESULTS

A total of 145 (n = 130 patients) out of 180 eligible hips (n = 165 patients) had a minimum 10-year follow-up (80.6%). Also, 126 hips (86.9%) belonged to women, and 19 hips (13.1%) belonged to men. The mean patient age was 30.3 ± 12.9 years. The survivorship rate was 91% at the 10-year follow-up. The cohort experienced significant improvements (P < .001) in the mHHS, NAHS, HOS-SSS, and VAS for pain scores. Moreover, the cohort achieved high rates of the PASS for the mHHS (89.8%), high rates of the MCID for the mHHS (82.4%), and high rates of the MCID for VAS for pain (80.6%) scores. In the propensity-matched subanalysis performed on patients with the highest risk for arthroplasty, 29 hips with capsular repair were matched to 81 hips with unrepaired capsules. While both groups experienced significant improvements in all PROs (P < .05), the group without capsule repair trended toward a higher conversion to arthroplasty rate when compared with the repair group. In addition, an odds ratio was calculated for the likelihood of converting to arthroplasty after having an unrepaired capsule compared with capsular repair (2.54 [95% CI, 0.873-7.37]; P = .087).

CONCLUSION

Patients undergoing primary hip arthroscopy with capsular repair experienced a high survivorship rate of 91% at a minimum 10-year follow-up. Patients who did not convert to arthroplasty saw favorable improvements in PROs and achieved high clinical benefit rates. In addition, among those patients at the highest risk for conversion to arthroplasty, a trend toward greater survivorship was observed with capsular repair.

Predictors of Clinical Outcomes After Hip Arthroscopy: 10-Year Follow-up Analysis of 1038 Patients

BACKGROUND

Although hip arthroscopy has been shown to have beneficial outcomes, there is a paucity of literature examining predictive factors of 10-year clinical outcomes.

PURPOSE

(1) To identify predictive factors of 10-year outcomes of hip arthroscopy and (2) to compare these factors with those found in 2-year and 5-year studies.

STUDY DESIGN

Cohort study; Level of evidence, 3.

METHODS

Data were prospectively collected and retrospectively reviewed on all patients undergoing hip arthroscopy between February 2008 and June 2012. Patients were included if they had a minimum 10-year follow-up on 2 patient-reported outcome measures: Nonarthritic Hip Score (NAHS) and modified Harris Hip Score. Exclusion criteria included previous ipsilateral hip conditions. Using bivariate and multivariate analyses, that authors analyzed the effects of 37 pre- and intraoperative variables on the NAHS, modified Harris Hip Score, and conversion to total hip arthroplasty.

RESULTS

Of the 883 patients who met the inclusion criteria, 734 (83.1%) had follow-up data. The mean follow-up time was 124.4 months (range, 120.0-153.1 months). Six variables were significant predictors of NAHS in both multivariate and bivariate analyses: revision status, body mass index (BMI), duration of symptoms, preoperative NAHS, age at onset of symptoms, and need for acetabular microfracture. Positive predictors of 10-year survivorship included acute injury and gluteus medius repair, while negative predictors included revision arthroscopy, Tönnis grade, acetabular inclination, iliopsoas fractional lengthening, and notchplasty.

CONCLUSION

Multiple predictive factors including age, BMI, revision status, and preoperative outcome scores were identified for long-term survivorship and functional outcomes. These may prove useful to clinicians in refining indications and guiding patients on expected outcomes of hip arthroscopy.

Treatment of Hip Cartilage Defects in Athletes

Chondral defects in the athlete's hip are a relatively common occurrence, often presenting with debilitating pain and activity limitation. Preoperative identification of cartilage defects is challenging and there are many different modalities for treatment. Nonsurgical interventions, including activity modification, physical therapy, and injections, play a vital role, especially in less severe cases and as adjuncts to surgical intervention. Treating surgeons must be familiar with the cartilage restoration procedures available, including debridement, microfracture, and various implantation and transplantation options. Safe and effective management of cartilage defects is imperative to an athlete's return to sport. It is also imperative that surgeons are aware of all these various treatment options to determine what modality is best for their patients. This review serves to outline these options, cover the published literature, and provide general guidelines for surgeons when they encounter chondral defects in the office and the operating room.

Outcomes of Arthroscopic Joint Preservation Techniques for Chondral Lesions in the Hip: An Updated Systematic Review

PURPOSE

To systematically review outcomes of joint preservation procedures for chondral lesions of the hip through analysis of survival rates and patient-reported outcomes (PROs).

METHODS

A literature search from 2018 to May 2023 was performed using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines in 3 databases: PubMed, Embase, and Google Scholar. Studies were included if they reported on outcomes of patients undergoing hip arthroscopy for the treatment of chondral lesions of the hip joint and if there were quantifiable postoperative outcome measures. Quality assessment was completed using the Methodological Index for Non-Randomized Studies criteria.

RESULTS

Twenty-seven studies were included, with 20 noncomparative and 7 comparative studies. Microfracture (MFx) was the most common procedure, reported in 17 studies. Other procedures include autologous chondrocyte transplantation (ACT) (5 studies), autologous matrix-induced chondrogenesis (AMIC) (3 studies), and MFx in conjunction with CarGel (3 studies). Seven other novel procedures were reported in individual separate studies. Survival rates, defined by no revision surgery or conversion to total hip arthroscopy (THA) at latest follow-up, for MFx (14 studies), AMIC (3 studies), and MFx in conjunction with CarGel (3 studies) ranged from 59.1% to 100%, 92.9% to 100%, and 94.4% to 95.7%, respectively. Survival rates of ACT, biological reconstruction, debridement and abrasion, microfragmented autologous adipose tissue transplantation, and ChondroFiller gel were all reported once in separate studies with rates of 100%, 100%, 85.4%, 100%, and 92.3%, respectively. All studies included PROs, most reporting statistically significant improvements (P < .05) at the latest follow-up.

CONCLUSIONS

Isolated MFx remained the most commonly performed technique, but with lower survival and higher conversion to THA rates than in studies before 2018. Novel techniques that were performed in conjunction with MFx or that avoided MFx altogether had higher overall survival rates despite being minimally performed. Most patients across all techniques demonstrated significant improvements in PROs.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Level IV, systematic review of Level III and IV studies.

Editorial Commentary: A Majority of Athletes Return to Sport After Hip Arthroscopy and Show Mid-Term Durability Regardless of High Impact Activity

At least 3 of 4 athletes will not only return to sport after hip arthroscopy but also maintain durability in their sport regardless of high-impact activity. Hoping our injured athletes can return to sport after their injury would prove an insufficient answer to our injured patients' expectations of a mathematically precise answer. As it turns out, Mathematical Hope exists as a term to describe the way we calculate probability. Because scientific research has shed light on the great outcomes that can be obtained from the arthroscopic treatment of a joint, we are now able to witness amazing comeback stories in the news and incredible outcomes from short- to long-term in scientific journals. Hip arthroscopy has now been supported by numerous research publications, turning our doubts into certainties, as high return to sport rates at high levels of performance are increasingly published.

Cartilage Defects Are Negatively Associated With Long-Term Hip Survivorship Following Contemporary Hip Arthroscopy for Femoroacetabular Impingement Syndrome: A Propensity-Matched Analysis at Minimum 10-Year Follow-Up

PURPOSE

To identify the timing and risk factors associated with secondary surgery following primary hip arthroscopy for femoroacetabular impingement syndrome (FAIS) at 10-year minimum follow-up.

METHODS

A prospectively collected clinical repository was evaluated for cases of primary hip arthroscopy for FAIS between January 2012 and February 2013 with minimum 10-year follow-up. Patients who underwent secondary surgery were propensity matched 1:4 to patients who did not undergo secondary surgery, controlling for age, sex, and body mass index (BMI). The groups were compared on demographics, radiographs, intraoperative findings, operative procedures, and patient-reported outcomes. A Kaplan-Meier survivorship curve was generated. Among the reoperation-free survivors, minimal clinically important difference (MCID) and patient acceptable symptom state (PASS) achievement were recorded for Hip Outcome Score-Activities of Daily Living (HOS-ADL), Hip Outcome Score-Sports Specific (HOS-SS) subscales, modified Harris Hip Score (mHHS), 12-item international Hip Outcome Tool (iHOT-12), and Visual Analog Scale for Pain (VAS Pain).

RESULTS

Twenty-four reoperation patients (67% female; age 40.1 ± 14.3 years; BMI 27.2 ± 5.5) were matched to 96 reoperation-free patients (62% female; age 37.0 ± 10.8 years; BMI 25.2 ± 4.7, P ≥ .111). Mean follow-up was 10.3 ± 0.2 years. No preoperative demographic differences were found between groups. The reoperation group showed more high-grade cartilage defects on the acetabulum and femoral head (33% vs 8%, P = .004; 29% vs 7%, P = .007). A bimodal distribution of time to reoperation was evidenced independent of the secondary surgery performed. Among the reoperation-free survivors, MCID and PASS achievement was as follows: HOS-ADL (69.1%, 62.1%), HOS-SS (69.9%, 74.4%), mHHS (73.3%, 58.1%), iHOT-12 (n/a, 63.8%), and VAS-Pain (80.2%, 62.6%).

CONCLUSIONS

Patients requiring reoperation following primary hip arthroscopy for FAIS demonstrated more severe cartilage defects and a bimodal distribution of time to reoperation.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Level III, retrospective comparative case series.

Editorial Commentary: Microfracture Remains a Foundational Tool for Cartilage Restoration During Hip-Preservation Procedures: Defying the Odds

A comprehensive approach to arthroscopic hip preservation in patients whose pathology includes cartilage defects may include microfracture; microfracture has been shown to have long-lasting positive effects in most patients treated for femoroacetabular impingement plus full-thickness chondral pathology. Although modern cartilage treatment alternatives such as autologous chondrocyte implantation, autologous matrix-induced chondrogenesis scaffolds, allograft or autograft particulate cartilage graft, and others have been described for the treatment of high-degree cartilage acetabular lesions, microfracture remains a foundational tool in cartilage restoration procedures. That said, when determining outcome, comorbidity must be considered, and, moreover, it is difficult to determine whether outcomes are only attributable to the microfracture versus concomitant procedures or changes in postoperative activity of operated patients.