Demographic predictors of poor outcome after hip arthroscopy
There are other patient factors, not directly related to joint pathology or morphology, that can influence outcome of hip arthroscopy.
Demographic predictors of failed hip arthroscopy include:3
- increased Body Mass Index (BMI)
- increased age,
- male gender, or
- young, thin females.
Not surprisingly, older individuals and those with higher BMI are less likely to gain benefit from hip arthroscopy. Two groups – older overweight males (BMI >25) and young, thin females in the context of mild-moderate dysplasia – are more likely to experience failed arthroscopy.3
Age alone has a significant impact on conversion rate to arthroplasty. A systematic review of outcomes in patients aged 40 years or more reported that the rate of conversion to total hip arthroplasty (hip replacement surgery) was 18.1% for patients aged 40 years or older, 23.1% for patients older than 50 years, and 25.2% for patients older than 60 years, with a mean time to arthroplasty of 25.0 months.8
Prior to arthroscopic surgery, both surgeons and non-surgical health professionals should carefully evaluate the individual and determine if there are patient predictors that increase the chances of a poor outcome. If so, a more prolonged and perhaps optimised course on non-surgical management may be warranted. Join me next month to explore surgical and rehabilitation predictors that may help provide some explanation for failed hip arthroscopies.
If you are keen to hear more about rehabilitation considerations for hip arthroscopy, you might like to join me at our upcoming Hip Academy meeting.