Primary and Revision Circumferential Labral Reconstruction for Femoroacetabular Impingement in Athletes: Return to Sport and Technique

Purpose

To determine return-to-play rates and hip-specific outcomes in athlete hips with femoroacetabular impingement syndrome treated with circumferential labral reconstruction (CLR).

Methods

All consecutive patients who underwent CLR from January through December 2016 performed by the senior surgeon with complete 2-year outcome scores were identified. The hips of 57 non-athletes who underwent CLR were excluded from analysis, as were 165 patients who underwent labral repair and 4 patients who underwent labral debridement. Outcome measures were completed by patients within 1 week prior to surgery and between 22 and 26 months postoperatively. Thirty patients met the inclusion criteria for this study. All 30 participated in regular, competitive athletic events and had magnetic resonance arthrogram–confirmed labral tears, and nonsurgical measures had failed. Of the 30 patients, 5 (16.7%) participated in cutting sports; 5 (16.7%), asymmetrical or overhead sports; 4 (13.3%), contact sports; 13 (43.3%), endurance sports; and 3 (10.0%), flexibility sports. Moreover, 25 of 30 (83.3%) were high-level athletes. Both primary (n = 23) and revision (n = 7) procedures were included.

Results

As determined by the International Hip Outcome Tool 12 score, 28 of 30 patients (93.3%) met the patient acceptable symptomatic state whereas 30 of 30 (100%) achieved substantial clinical benefit and exceeded the minimal clinically important difference for their operative hip. In addition, 23 of 30 patients (76.6%) met the patient acceptable symptomatic state whereas 30 of 30 (100%) achieved substantial clinical benefit and exceeded the minimal clinically important difference for the operative hip as determined by the visual analog scale pain score. Of 30 patients, 26 (86.7%) were able to return to play. The mean time to return to play was 6.6 months (standard deviation, 2.4 months).

Conclusions

Two-year outcomes in this population of athletes undergoing CLR for femoroacetabular impingement syndrome show a statistically and clinically significant improvement in patient-reported outcomes, a statistically and clinically significant decrease in pain, and an overall return-to-play rate of 86.7%.

Level of Evidence

Level IV, therapeutic case series.