Return to Golf After Hip Arthroscopy: A Systematic Review of the Literature

CONTEXT

Patients experiencing pain from femoral acetabular impingement and considering hip arthroscopy may be concerned about their timeline to resume activities they enjoy, such as golf.

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of this study was to review current literature on return-to-play data after hip arthroscopy and to provide clinicians with data to set proper expectations with patients.

DATA SOURCES

The following terms were used to search PubMed and Embase electronic databases on October 18, 2023: hip, arthroscopy, arthroscopic, golf.

STUDY SELECTION

Studies were included if they were in the English language, of Level 1 to 4 evidence, and contained data specific to golfers undergoing hip arthroscopy. Studies were excluded if they did not designate participants as golfers or did not specify return-to-play data. Editorials, case reports, and review articles were excluded. Screening was completed by 2 authors in a blind and duplicate manner.

STUDY DESIGN

Systematic review.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Level II.

DATA EXTRACTION

The following datapoints were extracted from each study: hip pathology and arthroscopic procedure data; number of players returning to golf and time from surgery to return; outcome score(s); and rehabilitation details. Descriptive statistics were calculated using Comprehensive Meta-Analysis software.

RESULTS

The search returned 400 studies, of which 4 were included for analysis. Of these 4 studies, 2 specified return-to-play time. Of 95 golfers, 90 (94.7%) returned to golf successfully after arthroscopic hip surgery. Subjective and objective outcome scores improved postoperatively, including an increased average drive distance.

CONCLUSION

Return to golf after hip arthroscopy is highly probable, with approximately 95% of patients throughout literature returning to play. A mean return time of 4.7 months for professional golfers and 7.2 months for amateurs, alongside improved subjective outcomes and performance metrics postsurgery, suggest patients can expect a relatively quick return to the course with similar or improved performance.

Femoral Head Vascularity After Arthroscopic Femoral Osteochondroplasty: An In Vivo Dynamic Contrast-Enhanced MRI Study

Background

A serious concern with surgical procedures around the hip joint is iatrogenic injury of the arterial supply to the femoral head (FH) and consequent development of FH osteonecrosis. Cam-type morphology can extend to the posterosuperior area. Understanding the limit of the posterior superior extension of the femoral osteochondroplasty is paramount to avoid underresection and residual impingement while maintaining FH vascularity.

Purpose/Hypothesis

The aim of this study was to quantify the impact of arthroscopic femoral osteochondroplasty on the FH vascular supply. It was hypothesized that keeping the superior extension of the resection zone anterior to the 12-o'clock position would maintain FH vascularity.

Study Design

Case series; Level of evidence, 4.

Methods

Ten adult patients undergoing arthroscopic femoroacetabular impingement (FAI) surgery were included in the study. Computed tomography (CT) scans were obtained before and after arthroscopic osteochondroplasty to define the extension of resection margins. To quantify FH vascularity, postoperative dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (DCE-MRI) was obtained at 2 time points: immediately after surgery and at the 3-month follow-up. Custom MRI analysis software was used to quantify perfusion.

Results

CT scan analysis demonstrated that the superior resection margin was maintained anterior to the 12-o'clock position in half of the patients. The remining 5 patients had a mean posterior extension of 11.4° ± 7.5°. The immediate postoperative DCE-MRI revealed diminished venous outflow in the operative side but no difference in overall FH perfusion. At the 3-month follow-up DCE-MRI, there was no perfusion difference between the operative and nonoperative FHs.

Conclusion

This study provides previously unreported quantitative MRI data on in vivo perfusion of the FH after the commonly performed arthroscopic femoral osteochondroplasty for the treatment of cam-type FAI. Maintaining resection margins anterior to the 12-o'clock position, or even 10° posteriorly, was not observed to impair perfusion to the FH.

Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System Validation in Hip Arthroscopy: A Shift Towards Reducing Survey Burden

Background The Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) was developed to provide measures of patient-reported symptoms and healthcare outcomes across a variety of conditions in an easily accessible manner. The purpose of this study was to validate PROMIS against traditional legacy measures in patients undergoing hip arthroscopy for femoral acetabular impingement (FAI). Methodology Outcome measures collected pre- and post-operatively included PROMIS Pain Interference (PI) and Physical Function (PF), modified Harris Hip Score (mHHS), Hip Outcome Score-Activities of Daily Living and Sport (HOS-ADL and HOS-Sport), Nonarthritic Hip Score (NAHS), and Visual Analog Scale (VAS). Pearson's correlation coefficients were calculated between each outcome measure. Results Strong correlations were observed between the PROMIS PF T-Score and the mHHS (r = 0.64-0.83, p < 0.0001), HOS-ADL (r = 0.54-0.81, p < 0.0001), HOS-Sport (r = 0.55-0.74, p < 0.0001), and NAHS (r = 0.61-0.78, p < 0.0001) measurement tools. PROMIS Computer Adaptive Testing PI T-Score and VAS also demonstrated a strong correlation (r = 0.64-0.80, p < 0.0001). Conclusions PROMIS PF scores correlate strongly with mHHS, HOS-ADL, HOS-Sport, and NAHS scores at all time points. Likewise, PROMIS PI scores correlate strongly with VAS pain scores. On average, patients completing PROMIS need to fill out only four or five questions. This study supports the use of PROMIS as an efficient, valid outcome tool for patients with FAI undergoing hip arthroscopy.

The prevalence of radiographic criteria of femoral acetabular impingement in patients undergoing hip arthroplasty surgery

BACKGROUND

Pistol grip deformity of the proximal femur has been reported as a potential cause of hip pain and early-onset arthritis. The exact incidence of patients with osteoarthritis resulting from femoral acetabular impingement (FAI) is unknown. The purpose of this study was to explore the relationship between radiographic markers of FAI in patients undergoing hip arthroplasty.

METHODS

We retrospectively reviewed the radiographs of patients undergoing hip arthroplasty by a single surgeon over a 2-year period. The patients were divided by age, those younger than 65 years and (group A) and those 65 years and older (group B). The radiographs were evaluated for morphology consistent with FAI including an α angle >55°, crossover sign, coxa profunda, acetabular protrusio, and ischial spine sign. Three independent reviewers evaluated all the radiographs. The incidence of CAM, Pincer, and mixed deformities were compared between the 2 groups.

RESULTS

A total of 255 patients with 258 hip arthroplasties were included in this analysis. Group A was found to have a greater number of patients with CAM morphology. Linear regression analysis revealed that the α angle was greater in younger patients.

CONCLUSION

Patients undergoing hip arthroplasty exhibit a high incidence of radiographic abnormalities consistent with FAI. The CAM-type morphology occurs more frequently in younger patients with advanced arthritis requiring hip arthroplasty. This morphology is thought to cause a delaminating injury to the cartilage of the acetabulum. This study supports the notion that CAM-type morphology is a risk factor for early development of degenerative arthritis of the hip.

Sports hernia treatment: modified bassini versus minimal repair

Background:

The minimal repair technique for sports hernias repairs only the weak area of the posterior abdominal wall along with decompressing the genitofemoral nerve. This technique has been shown to return athletes to competition rapidly. This study compares the clinical outcomes of the minimal repair technique with the traditional modified Bassini repair.

Hypothesis:

Athletes undergoing the minimal repair technique for a sports hernia would return to play more rapidly compared with athletes undergoing the traditional modified Bassini repair.

Methods:

A retrospective study of 28 patients who underwent sports hernia repair at the authors’ institution was performed. Fourteen patients underwent the modified Bassini repair, and a second group of 14 patients underwent the minimal repair technique. The 2 groups were compared with respect to time to return to sport, return to original level of competition, and clinical outcomes.

Results:

Patients in the minimal repair group returned to sports at a median of 5.6 weeks (range, 4-8 weeks), which was significantly faster compared with the modified Bassini repair group, with a median return of 25.8 weeks (range, 4-112 weeks; P = 0.002). Thirteen of 14 patients in the minimal repair group returned to sports at their previous level, while 9 of 14 patients in the Bassini group were able to return to their previous level of sport (P = 0.01). Two patients in each group had recurrent groin pain. One patient in the minimal repair group underwent revision hernia surgery for recurrent pain, while 1 patient in the Bassini group underwent hip arthroscopy for symptomatic hip pain.

Conclusion:

The minimal repair technique allows athletes with sports hernias to return to play faster than patients treated with the modified Bassini.