Abstract
Introduction
With the evolution of hip arthroscopy, it has been used as joint preserving surgery for osteoarthritis among various other indications. The purpose of this study was to assess the factors that affect the subgroup of patients with osteoarthritis that have had total hip replacements following hip arthroscopy.
Methods
Data was retrieved retrospectively from 556 osteoarthritic patients' files that have had hip arthroscopy between the years 2002 to 2009 (mean follow up time 3.2 – range 1 to 6.4 years). Eighty-three (15%) of them have had eventually total hip replacement. The data analysis included different variables (i.e. age, arthritic stage, repeated procedures) that may have influenced the time elapsed between the hip arthroscopy and consecutive replacement procedures.
Results
The time gap from the first arthroscopy to a hip replacement was longer in patients younger than 55 years (mean 1.9 – range 0.2 to 5.1 years) and in a milder osteoarthritic stage (mean 2.2 – range 0.2 to 5 years). Patients that had several hip scopes (2 to 4) had a double time gap (mean 2.8 – range 1.4 to 4.7 years) than those with only a single procedure.
Conclusion
Osteoarthritic patients that are treated with hip arthroscopy have 15% chance of having a hip replacement within the period of seven years. The time difference for a hip replacement after an arthroscopy is longer in younger age and in milder osteoarthritis. Repeated arthroscopies may delay the need for arthroplasty.
