Editorial Commentary: Hip Arthroscopy for Patients With Decreased Center-Edge Angle and Bipolar Cartilage Lesions Is Associated With Early Conversion to Total Hip Arthroplasty.

Abstract

The utilization of hip arthroscopy to treat femoroacetabular impingement has continued to grow year after year. Clinical studies and cost-effectiveness analyses have repeatedly shown the benefits of hip arthroscopy in improving quality of life, offering much promise to this patient population. Through years of research, a more comprehensive understanding of impingement pathologies has brought improving surgical techniques. However, predictors of poor outcomes are still not entirely understood. Although many patients attain significant relief, some patients do not attain meaningful improvement. Meaningful improvement can be found even years after hip arthroscopy, but this is a long road for patients who do not find sustained relief. Thus, as with defining appropriate indications for hip arthroscopy, it is equally important to identify factors that may instead suggest alternative treatment regimens for patients with hip pathology who may not benefit from arthroscopic intervention. However, rather than exclude large groups entirely based on the presence of certain factors such as increased age or arthritis, the goal should be to understand the nuances among patients in these higher-risk groups to identify those who may still find success with hip arthroscopy.