High Rate of Return to Swimming After Hip Arthroscopy for Femoroacetabular Impingement.

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: To evaluate patients' ability to return to swimming after hip arthroscopy for femoroacetabular impingement syndrome (FAIS) with capsular closure. METHODS: Consecutive FAIS patients who had undergone hip arthroscopy for the treatment of FAIS by a single fellowship-trained surgeon were reviewed. The inclusion criteria included patients with a diagnosis of FAIS who self-reported being swimming athletes with a minimum clinical follow-up duration of 2 years. For all patients, we assessed demographic data; preoperative physical examination findings, imaging findings, and patient-reported outcome (PRO) scores including the modified Harris Hip Score, Hip Outcome Score-Activities of Daily Living subscale, Hip Outcome Score-Sports-Specific subscale, and visual analog scale for pain; and postoperative examination findings and PROs at a minimum of 2 years after surgery, including a swimming-specific questionnaire. RESULTS: The study included 26 patients (62% female patients; average age, 31.3 ± 7.2 years; average body mass index, 24.2 ± 2.7 kg/m2). Preoperatively, 24 patients (92%) were unable to swim at their preinjury level, and swimming was either decreased or discontinued entirely at an average of 6.0 ± 4.0 months before surgery. All 26 patients (100%) returned to swimming at an average of 3.4 ± 1.7 months after surgery, including 14 (54%) who returned at a higher level of performance than their preoperative state, 10 (38%) who returned to the same level, and 2 (7%) who returned at a lower level. The ability to return at a higher level of performance was not associated with age (P = .81), sex (P = .62), or body mass index (P = .16). At an average of 31.2 ± 4.95 months' follow-up, postoperative PRO scores improved significantly from preoperative values (Hip Outcome Score-Activities of Daily Living subscale from 68.5 ± 19.9 to 93.9 ± 5.7, P < .0001; Hip Outcome Score-Sports-Specific subscale from 44.0 ± 21.0 to 85.2 ± 16, P < .0001; and modified Harris Hip Score from 59.5 ± 12.1 to 94 ± 8.6, P < .0001). The average patient satisfaction level was 93% ± 9%. CONCLUSIONS: Recreational and amateur swimmers return to swimming 100% of the time after hip arthroscopy for FAIS, with just over half returning at a higher level, and most of these patients return within 4 months after surgery. This information is critical in counseling patients on their expectations with respect to returning to swimming after hip arthroscopy for FAIS. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE Level IV, case series.