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.