Is early treatment of cam-type femoroacetabular impingement the key to avoiding associated full thickness isolated chondral defects?

<bold>Purpose: </bold>Hip arthroscopy is a safe and reproducible method for treating femoroacetabular impingement (FAI) and has evolved greatly in recent years. But little is known about the influences on the outcome after surgery. The aims of the current study were to elucidate (1) which parameters can be used as a marker for the presence of chondral and labral lesions, (2) the postoperative clinical outcome, and (3) at which time after surgery recovery occurs.<bold>Methods: </bold>A prospective study was performed with 177 patients who underwent hip arthroscopy because of cam-type FAI. The patients were examined preoperatively as well as 6 weeks and 6 months postoperatively, and their condition was rated according to the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Arthritis Index (WOMAC) and the Non-Arthritic Hip Score (NAHS). Statistical analyses were performed to evaluate the influence of independent factors such as "patient age," "pain duration before surgery" on the clinical outcome, and the appearance of chondral or labral defects.<bold>Results: </bold>The NAHS and WOMAC scores showed a significant enhancement 6 weeks after surgery. Only the NAHS showed a further improvement after 6 months. A positive correlation with the dependent variable "chondral lesion" was evaluated for the independent variables "pain duration before surgery," "preoperative NAHS," and "labrum lesion". Using ROC analysis, the optimal cutoff value of "pain duration before surgery" as a predictor was 9.5 months, for the NAHS 42.5 points. For the dependent variable, "6-month postoperative NAHS" significant correlations for the independent variables "age" and "pain duration before surgery" were revealed with a cutoff value of 55.5 years, respectively, 23.5 months.<bold>Conclusions: </bold>It was concluded from the results that the date of surgery is relevant for the appearance of chondral defects. Patient age is a further relevant factor for clinical outcome. Recovery after hip arthroscopy takes place mainly in the first 6 weeks after surgery.<bold>Level Of Evidence: </bold>Therapeutic study, Level III. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]