A clinical observational study on patient-reported outcomes, hip functional performance and return to sports activities in hip arthroscopy patients

• Little information on hip functional performance after hip arthroscopy is available.
• We examined these data compared to questionnaires and return to sports activities.
• Patients showed good recovery on all these three indicators in this follow-up study.
• The functional performance tests used seem to be adequate in order to measure recovery.

ObjectivesTo describe data of short- and midterm results of hip arthroscopy patients based on patient-reported hip function, hip functional performance and return to sports activities.DesignObservational cohort study.SettingSports medical center.Participants37 recreational athletes (21 men) at least six months after finishing rehabilitation for hip arthroscopy.Main outcome measuresInternational Hip Outcome Tool 33 (IHOT-33), Pain Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), Global Perceived Effect Scale (GPE), sports questionnaires and hip functional performance tests.ResultsAt a mean follow-up time of 2.3 years, 81% of participants reported improvement on the GPE and 84% returned to sports activities. The mean IHOT-33 score was 69.3; the mean VAS score was 35.0. Range of motion (ROM) and strength were within the 90% Limb Symmetry Index (LSI) limit, except for hip internal rotation ROM. A full recovery of hip functional performance, as measured with balance and hop tests, was established based on the 90% LSI limit.ConclusionsThe overall short- and midterm results of these follow-up data show good recovery of hip arthroscopy patients on patient-reported outcomes, functional performance and return to sports activities. The functional performance tests used in this study seem adequate for measuring recovery in hip arthroscopy patients.