Despite patient-reported outcomes improve, patients with femoroacetabular impingement syndrome do not increase their objectively measured sport and physical activity level 1 year after hip arthroscopic surgery. Results from the HAFAI cohort.

PURPOSE

Patients with femoroacetabular impingement syndrome (FAIS) are young and middle-aged persons living physically active lives including sports activities. However, measurements of the physical activity level before and after hip arthroscopic surgery in patients with FAIS using both self-reported and objective accelerometer-based measures are lacking. Furthermore, comparing patients with a reference group of persons reporting no hip problems and conducting subgroup analyses investigating changes in physical activity level and self-reported outcomes according to pre-surgery activity level may further highlight the activity pattern for patients.

METHODS

Sixty patients with FAIS eligible for hip arthroscopic surgery were consecutively included in a prospective cohort study (HAFAI cohort) together with 30 reference persons reporting no hip problems. Participants completed the Copenhagen Hip and Groin Outcome Score (HAGOS) together with questions regarding their sports activities. Furthermore, participants wore a three-axial accelerometer for five consecutive days during waking hours. The accelerometer-based data were analysed and presented as total activity and type, frequency and duration of activities.

RESULTS

Patients experienced significant and clinically relevant changes in all HAGOS scores. 88% of patients participated in some kind of sports activity 1 year after surgery. Overall, objectively measured physical activity did not change from before to 1 year after surgery. However, subgroup analyses of the most sedentary patients preoperatively revealed significant changes towards a more active pattern. Compared to reference persons, patients performed less bicycling and running.

CONCLUSION

Despite clinically relevant changes in self-reported outcomes, patients did not increase their overall physical activity level 1 year after surgery. Physical activity levels were lower in patients than in the reference group and patients continued bicycling and running less compared with the reference group.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

II.