Hip arthroscopy is a successful treatment for femoroacetabular impingement in under-16 competitive football players: a prospective study with minimum 2-year follow-up.

INTRODUCTION

Femoroacetabular impingement is considered a spectrum disease affecting multiple hip structures and it is especially prevalent in football players. Hip arthroscopy has shown good results in this population. However, little attention has been given to its efficacy in children and adolescent players. The aim of this study is to evaluate the outcomes of hip arthroscopy in under-16 football players.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Between 2008 and 2019, all under-16 competitive football players who underwent hip arthroscopy for the treatment of femoroacetabular impingement were recruited for this prospective study. Hip pain and function were measured through the VAS, HOS, mHHS and WOMAC scores before the surgery, at 1-year after the surgery and at minimum 2-years after surgery. Preoperative and postoperative scores were compared to  establish the evolution of hip pain and function. Additionally, rate and time to return to play were recorded.

RESULTS

14 subjects were included in the analysis. All subjects attended to the last follow-up, at mean 3.21 years after the surgery (range 2-10). Mean ± SD VAS (0-100) scores were 60.14 ± 15.88 before the surgery, 6.43 ± 5.19 at 1-year follow-up and 5.07 ± 4.05 at final follow-up (p < 0.05). Significant improvements were observed in HOS ADL, HOS SS, mHHS and WOMAC (p < 0.05) between preoperative values and 1-year follow-up. No significant differences were found in knee pain or function between 1-year and final follow-up assessments (p > 0.05). All subjects (100%) were playing football 1-year after the surgery, with a mean ± SD time to return to play of 5.93 ± 2.09 months. 13 subjects (92.86%) were still playing at final follow-up.

CONCLUSIONS

Hip arthroscopy is a safe and effective surgical procedure for the treatment of FAI in under-16 competitive football players, improving hip pain and function with excellent rates to return to play.