Mini-open femoroacetabular osteoplasty: how do these patients do?

Femoroacetabular impingement, a condition seen in young active patients, is believed to lead to early degeneration of the hip joint if left untreated. We have over the last 5 years utilized a mini-open direct anterior approach to perform femoroacetabular osteoplasty (FAO) for the hip. Between January 2006 and February 2011, 293 hips (265 patients) underwent direct anterior mini-open FAO performed by a single surgeon; 156 hips (149 patients) have reached a minimum 2-year follow-up, with an average follow-up of 2.3 years (range 2.0 to 4.2 years). Preoperative Short Form 36, Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Arthritis Index, University of California Los Angeles, modified Harris Hip, and Super Simple Hip scores improved significantly (P < .001). This study shows promising mid-term results for the mini-open FAO procedure, alleviating pain and allowing return to activity in young patients with femoroacetabular impingement. Further studies need to be performed to determine risk factors for failure of FAO and ideal patient selection.