Significant improvement after hip arthroscopy for femoroacetabular impingement in women

Purpose This study was designed to evaluate outcomes in women after hip arthroscopy (HA) for femoroacetabular impingement syndrome (FAIS) and compare these results with men. Methods Retrospective study of a prospective database of patients undergoing hip arthroscopy between 2015 and 2018. Inclusion criteria were patients between 18 and 50 years of age, diagnosis of FAIS, complete clinical patient-reported outcomes (PROs), radiographic measurements, and underwent at least a 2-year HA follow-up. For each woman, two men underwent HA were matched in a 1:2 ratio based on age within 5 years, and date of surgery within 6 months. Diagnostic arthroscopy was performed to evaluate labral and chondral status. Radiographic evaluation, a self-administered Hip Outcome Score (HOS) questionnaire, with activity of daily living (ADL) and sports subscale (SSS), and a self-administered short version of the International Hip Outcome Tool (iHOT-12) were assessed at 6 months, 12 months, and then yearly. Clinical relevance was measured with the minimal clinical important difference (MCID), patient acceptable symptom state (PASS), and substantial clinical benefit (SCB) for HOS-ADL, HOS-SSS, and iHOT-12. Results One hundred and eighty-five patients met the inclusion criteria. Fifty-two women were matched with 104 men. Significant differences in terms of demographics, radiographic results, intraoperative findings and arthroscopic procedures were found between women and men. Mean follow-up was 48.4 months in women and 50.2 months in men. Both groups showed significant improvement from preoperative PROs to the latest follow-up. There were no significant differences between groups in preoperative PROs, latest follow-up PROs and PROs improvements. The difference in frequency of patients achieving MCID, PASS, and SCB was only significant greater for iHOT-12 PASS in women compared with men. Conclusion Significant improvements in PROs in women after HA for FAIS at 4-year follow-up were found. Differences between women and men in PROs and rates of achieving MCID, SCB and PASS were only significant for iHOT-12 PASS.