Patients undergoing hip arthroscopy with active workers' compensation claims do not demonstrate inferior outcomes at mid-term.

INTRODUCTION

Workers' compensation (WC) claims have been associated with poor short-term outcomes after hip arthroscopy. We aim to report mid-term outcomes and return to work (RTW) among patients with WC claims.

METHODS

Data were prospectively collected and retrospectively reviewed for patients undergoing hip arthroscopy between September 2008 and July 2011. Inclusion criteria were an active WC claim at time of surgery with preoperatively-documented patient-reported outcomes (PROs). Exclusion criteria were a previous hip condition and preoperative Tönnis grade >1. Patient-reported WC cases were pair-matched to non-WC cases based on body mass index (BMI) ± 5, age ± 5 years, gender, preoperative LCEA, labral treatment, and capsular treatment.

RESULTS

52 patients had minimum 5-year outcomes. Mean age was 40.6 (±10.6) years and a mean BMI of 27.5 (±5.3). 9 (16.7%) hips underwent secondary arthroscopies. 5 hips (9.3%) were converted to THA. There were 5 (9.3%) reports of numbness, all of which resolved spontaneously. Work status details were available for 49 patients and 47 patients (95.9%) returned to work. 42 WC hips were matched to 42 control hips. At ⩾5-year follow-up, patient-reported outcomes, visual analogue scale (VAS) and satisfaction were not different between the groups. All magnitudes in improvement were significantly higher in the WC group ( = < 0.001) except for VAS. No significant differences were found in rates of secondary arthroscopies, conversions to THA, or complications between the groups.

CONCLUSIONS

WC patients have equal favourable mid-term outcomes as non-WC patients after hip arthroscopy for the treatment of femoroacetabular impingement and labral pathology.