Long-Term Outcomes of Arthroscopic Labral Treatment of Femoroacetabular Impingement in Adolescents: A Nested Propensity-Matched Analysis.

BACKGROUND: Hip arthroscopy has demonstrated effectiveness as a treatment for femoroacetabular impingement (FAI) in adult patients, with promising long-term outcomes. However, there is a paucity of literature regarding the adolescent population. The purposes of our study were to report on survivorship and patient-reported outcomes (PROs) at a minimum 10-year follow-up in adolescent patients who underwent hip arthroscopy for FAI and labral tears and to compare the survivorship and outcomes of this population with those of a nested, propensity-matched adult control group.

METHODS: Data regarding adolescent patients who underwent primary hip arthroscopy between February 2008 and January 2012 were reviewed. Patients with a minimum 10-year follow-up for the modified Harris hip score (mHHS), Non-Arthritic Hip Score (NAHS), Hip Outcome Score Sport-Specific Subscale (HOS-SSS), International Hip Outcome Tool-12 (iHOT-12), and visual analog scale (VAS) for pain were eligible. The exclusion criteria were previous ipsilateral hip conditions or surgical procedures, a Tönnis grade of >1, or dysplasia. In the subanalysis, adolescent patients were matched to young adult patients with use of a 1:1 ratio on the basis of sex, body mass index, Tönnis grade, lateral center-edge angle (LCEA), labral treatment, capsular treatment, and additional procedures performed during the surgery.

RESULTS: A total of 74 patients (61 female and 13 male; 74 hips) with a mean (and standard deviation) age of 16.7 ± 1.4 years and a minimum follow-up of 10 years were included. The latest follow-up occurred at a mean of 125.4 ± 5.3 months (range, 120.0 to 144.1 months). Significant improvement in all PROs from baseline and 100% survivorship were demonstrated at the 10-year follow-up. In the subanalysis, 58 adolescent hips were propensity-matched to 58 young adult hips. The adolescent group had higher postoperative scores for the HOS-SSS (p = 0.021), NAHS (p = 0.021), and iHOT-12 (p = 0.042) than the young adult group. Patient satisfaction at the latest follow-up was also significantly higher in the adolescent group (p = 0.00061). The rate of survivorship free from conversion to THA was similar between the adolescent and control groups (100% versus 96.6%; p = 0.200).

CONCLUSIONS: Adolescents undergoing hip arthroscopy for the treatment of FAI and labral tears demonstrated excellent outcomes and a high rate of survivorship. These outcomes were superior to those seen in a matched adult group. The results of this study indicate that hip arthroscopy in adolescents is a safe procedure that leads to improvement in outcomes at long-term follow-up.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Therapeutic Level IV. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.