Introduction

Extensive literature has described surgical outcomes for pre-arthritic hip pain, but the proportion of patients who progress to surgery remains unknown.

Objective

To determine the proportion of patients who present to a tertiary referral center for pre-arthritic hip pain and progress to surgery at minimum one year follow-up.

Design

Retrospective cohort study.

Setting

Single tertiary care academic medical center.

Patients

Thirteen to 40-year-olds who presented for initial evaluation to a conservative or surgical orthopedic specialist and were diagnosed with pre-arthritic hip pain (n=713 patients, 830 hips).

Intervention

Not applicable.

Main Outcome Measures

The primary outcome was the rate of progression to surgery at minimum one year follow-up for the entire cohort. Predictors of progression to surgery were determined for the entire cohort and for radiographically defined subgroups using multiple logistic regression. Candidate predictors included baseline demographic, radiographic, clinical diagnosis, and patient-reported outcome measures.

Results

In a cohort with mean age 25.4 (SD 8.1) years, 72.7% female, and mean follow-up 2.6 (range 1.0-4.8) years, 429/830 hips (51.7% [95% CI 48.2%-55.1%]) progressed to surgery. Predictors of surgical progression in the entire cohort included younger age (OR 0.95/year [95% CI 0.93-0.98]), pain duration longer than six months (OR 1.87-2.03, p≤.027), worse physical function (OR 0.96/Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) point [0.92-0.99]), and a clinical diagnosis of femoroacetabular impingement (FAI) (OR 3.47 [2.05-5.89]), acetabular dysplasia (OR 2.75 [1.73-4.35]), and/or labral tear (OR 10.71 [6.98-16.47]). Radiographic dysplasia (lateral center edge angle<200) increased the likelihood of surgery in all subgroups (OR 2.05-8.47, p≤.008). Increasing maximum α angle increased the likelihood of surgery in patients with severe cam FAI (α>630) (OR 1.03/degree [1.00-1.06]).

Conclusion

Almost half of patients with pre-arthritic hip pain did not progress to surgery at minimum one year follow-up. A trial of conservative management is likely worthwhile in most patients.

This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.