Clinical outcomes following arthroscopic treatment of femoro-acetabular impingement using a minimal traction approach and an initial capsulotomy. Minimum two year follow-up.

PURPOSE: Although the arthroscopic management of femoroacetabular impingement (FAI) is increasing, severe complications have been reported due to traction. We developed an arthroscopic technique based on an initial capsulotomy and a minimal traction approach. The main purpose of this study was to analyze the clinical outcomes of FAI treatment using this technique after at least two years of follow-up.

METHODS: Forty-seven consecutive patients underwent surgery for FAI. There were two initial portals: a proximal anterolateral portal and a distal anterior instrumental portal. An anterior working space was created and a T-shaped incision was made in the anterior capsule to relieve joint distraction. Short traction (less than 20 mn) made it possible to approach the central compartment. Acetabuloplasty was performed in the presence of pincer impingement. Traction was then released. A head-neck femoral osteochondroplasty was performed in case of bump impingement. All patients underwent a mean 3.3 ± one years of follow-up based on two self-administered questionnaires: the Harris hip score and the QOL Oxford score. None of the patients were lost to follow-up.

RESULTS: There were three complications: two ossifications and one case of injury to the femoral cutaneous nerve with good clinical outcomes at the final follow-up. Five patients (10%) underwent surgical revision after a mean 1.4 years of follow-up: three total hip arthroplasties, one peri-acetabular osteotomy, and one repeat arthroscopic hip debridement. The Harris score increased significantly from 60 ± 10 to 86 ± 15 (p < 0.0001) and the Oxford score improved from 34 ± 15 to 50 ± 11. Only 25% of patients had a "forgotten hip" at the final follow-up.

CONCLUSION: Our clinical results were comparable to previously reported outcomes with other surgical techniques for the management of FAI. However, it should also be noted that despite these good clinical outcomes, the percentage of patients with a "forgotten hip" is low, and patients should be informed of this.