Hip arthroscopy for the intra-articular sequelae after Thompson-Epstein type I-II traumatic hip dislocation: A 2-year minimal follow-up

Background: Traumatic hip dislocation is a usually high-energy injury and often leads to serious intra-articular pathologies. Hip arthroscopy is an increasingly popular minimally invasive procedure for intra-articular conditions. Purpose: This study was designed to review the arthroscopic diagnosis and treatment for mechanic hip symptoms after traumatic hip dislocation and evaluate clinical outcomes. Methods: Seven consecutive patients treated with arthroscopy for mechanical hip symptoms after traumatic hip dislocation between 2005 and 2014 were enrolled in the study. We use Tonnis classification for evaluation of hip osteoarthritis by preoperative and the last follow-up plain radiography. Visual analogue scale (VAS), modified Harris Hip Score (mHHS), Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC), and 12-item short-form (SF-12) were obtained for clinical outcome assessment. All patients were followed up for a minimum of 2 years. Results: The average age of the patients when undergoing hip arthroscopy was 32.7 years. The interval from injury to arthroscopy ranged from 3 days to 2 years, with a mean of 353 days. The mean operative time was 165 mins. Loose bodies were found in 6 patients. Four patients had labral tears, five had ligamentum teres lesions and six had chondral injuries at the femoral head or acetabulum. All preoperative clinical functional scores improved at last follow-up. The mean length of postoperative hospital stay was 2.6 days. No patients had surgery-related complication. Conclusion: Hip arthroscopy is a powerful tool to detect loose bodies or intra-articular fragments after traumatic hip dislocation and provides good-to-excellent clinical outcomes. For patients with mechanic hip symptoms after traumatic hip dislocation, early referral for hip arthroscopy surgeon is recommended.