Hip arthroscopy in osteoarthritis - A review of 68 patients

Background and Aims: A few studies have investigated therapeutic effect of hip arthroscopy in osteoarthritis, and therefore the use of hip arthroscopy in osteoarthritis has remained controversial. The aim of this study was to evaluate diagnostic and therapeutic aspects of hip arthroscopy in primary osteoarthritis. Material and Methods: During a time period from 1995 to 1999, a total of 68 patients had an arthroscopic evaluation of primary hip osteoarthritis at t he Paijat-Hame Central Hospital, Lahti, Finland. The mean (range) follow-up was 1.3 (0.3 to 4) years. Arthroscopy was diagnostic in 38 (56 %), while s ix (9 %) patients received either long-lasting anaesthetic or prednisolone, and in 24 (35 %) debridement was possible. Partial synovectomy was perform ed in two (3 %). Results: Three months after the arthroscopy, 49 (72 %) patients reported th at their hip pain had decreased. One year after the arthroscopy, 18 (26 %) patients stated that their hip pain was less pronounced than before the art hroscopy. The severity of hip osteoarthritis in preoperative x-rays correla ted significantly (p = 0.035) with the subjective result: the milder the os teoarthritis, the more often patients reported that their hip pain had decr eased after arthroscopy. No association was observed between age, sex, modi fied Outerbridge grade of chondropathy, or whether a debridement was done o r not and the symptomatic relief after the arthroscopy. Conclusions: Hip arthroscopy with or without debridement of loose cartilage may, at least temporarily, reduce the pain of mild or moderate osteoarthri tis of the hip. Still, repeated arthroscopies had no therapeutic effect.