Background: Hip arthroscopy has become increasingly popular; however, little is known about revision hip arthroscopy.
Hypothesis: Revision hip arthroscopy is associated with unaddressed femoroacetabular impingement. The purpose of this study was to describe reasons for revision hip arthroscopy.
Study design: Case series; Level of evidence, 4.
Methods: Between March 2005 and March 2006, 37 revision hip arthroscopies were performed by the senior author. Data were collected through retrospective review of clinical and operative notes.
Results: All patients required revision surgery because of persistent hip pain. There were 25 women and 12 men with an average age of 33 years (range, 16-53 years). The average time from prior surgery to revision was 20.5 months (range, 2.9-84 months). Common findings among patients needing revision were hip pain, decreased range of motion, and functional disability. The average modified Harris Hip Score was 53 (range, 22-99). Thirty-six patients had radiographic evidence of femoroacetabular impingement at the time of revision. Revision procedures included 34 (95%) for femoroacetabular impingement, 32 (87%) for labral lesions, 26 (70%) for a chondral defect, 23 (62%) for lysis of adhesions, and 13 (35%) for previously unaddressed instability. Two patients had total hip arthroplasty after revision, and 3 patients required further revision. Of the remaining 32 patients, early follow-up was obtained on 27 (84%) at an average of 12.7 months postoperatively (range, 6-19 months). Outcomes showed patients regained some of their lost function within the first year.
Conclusion: Patients commonly required revision hip arthroscopy because of persistent impingement.