The incidence of total hip arthroplasty after hip arthroscopy in osteoarthritic patients.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the incidence of total hip arthroplasty (THA) in osteoarthritic patients who were treated by arthroscopic debridement and to evaluate factors that might influence the time interval from the first hip arthroscopy to THA.


METHODS
Retrospective clinical series


METHODS
Follow-up data and surgical reports were retrieved from 564 records of osteoarthritic patients that have had hip arthroscopy between the years 2002 to 2009 with a mean follow-up time of 3.2 years (range, 1-6.4 years). The time interval between the first hip arthroscopy to THA was modelled as a function of patient age; level of cartilage damage; procedures performed and repeated arthroscopies with the use of multivariate regression analysis.


RESULTS
Ninety (16%) of all participants eventually required THA. The awaiting time from the first arthroscopy to a hip replacement was found to be longer in patients younger than 55 years and in a milder osteoarthritic stage. Patients that experienced repeated hip scopes had a longer time to THA than those with only a single procedure. Procedures performed concomitant with debridement and lavage did not affect the time interval to THA.


CONCLUSIONS
In our series of arthroscopic treatment of hip osteoarthritis, 16% required THA over a period of 7 years. Factors that influence the time to arthroplasty were age, degree of osteoarthritis and recurrent procedures.
Haviv
Barak
B
Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Arthroscopy and Sports Injuries Unit, Rabin Medical Center, 39 Jabotinski Street, Petach-Tikva 49100, Israel.
O'Donnell
John
J
Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, St Vincent and Mercy Private Hospital, 159 Grey Street, East Melbourne 3002, Victoria, Australia.