The relationship between diagnosis and outcome in arthroscopy of the hip

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to compare the results of arthroscopy of the hip for osteonecrosis (ON) with those obtained for other diagnoses by presenting a cohort of patients with diagnosis and symptoms as dependant variables in a consecutive series of 86 cases of hip arthroscopy. Type of Study: Retrospective review of outcomes. Methods: There were 83 patients (86 hips) who underwent arthroscopy. Indications included ON (43%), labral injuries (20%), osteoarthritis (degenerative joint disease, DJD) (10%), Legg-Calvé-Perthes (LCP) disease (10%), and loose bodies (10%). All but 2 patients had had symptoms for at least 6 months. Symptoms were pain (100%), mechanical problems (78%), and loss of motion (56%). Arthroscopy was performed in the supine position, using a standard traction table, 30° and/or 70°arthroscopes, and the anterior and peritrochanteric portals. Data were collected longitudinally, retrospectively reviewed, and statistically analyzed. Results: No complications were seen; 60% of the patients had significant improvement over an average follow-up of 30 months. Better results were with labral tears (91%, P