Paper 63: Return to Long Distance Running After Hip Arthroscopy for Femoroacetabular Impingement

OBJECTIVES: Arthroscopic hip surgery for femoroacetabular impingement (FAI) has shown high rates of return to different sports in athletes. No studies to date have focused on patients’ return to long- distance running, a running sport with unique characteristics and demands. The purpose of this study was to determine return to long-distance running rates and changes in running performance in long distance runners undergoing hip arthroscopic surgery for the treatment of FAI and to identify possible risk factors associated with not returning to long distance running. METHODS: An institutional hip preservation registry was retrospectively reviewed for patients identified as long distance runners (half marathons and marathons) who underwent primary hip arthroscopies for FAI performed between March 2010 and January 2017. Patient demographics and injury characteristics as well as clinical and radiographic findings were recorded. All patients were contacted for return to running information using a running specific return to sport questionnaire. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was used to identify potential risk factors for not returning to long-distance running. RESULTS: Sixty-eight long distance runners (78 hips) were included. Mean patient age and body mass index (BMI) were 37.8±8.9 years and 23.8±3.3 kg/m(2), respectively. Thirty-eight (56%) were female runners. Mean weekly running milage prior to injury was 34.5±16.9 miles. Mean duration of hip symptoms prior to seeking medical evaluation was 77.3±16.9 weeks. Fifty-nine runners (87%) had to stop or modify their running for a mean duration of 44.3±45 weeks prior to surgery due to hip symptoms. Overall, 50 runners (74%) returned to any running, of which 25 runners (50%) returned to long distance running completing half/full marathons races after surgery. Most common reasons for not returning to running were pain or discomfort (50%) followed by fear of re-injury (22%) and additional different injuries (22%). Among runners who did not return to any running, 12 (67%) reported satisfaction from surgery. Multivariable logistic regression analysis revealed female runners (odds ratio [OR]=0.2; confidence interval [CI]=0.0 to 0.9; p=0.034) and hips with radiologic findings of higher alpha angles (OR=0.9; 95% CI=0.9 to 1.0; p=0.045) were less likely to return to long distance running. CONCLUSIONS: Hip arthroscopic treatment for FAI in symptomatic long-distance runners, a distinctive subgroup of runners, allowed most of them (74%) to return to running, however only 40% returned to long distance running races. Female runners and runners with radiologic findings of higher alpha angles were less likely to return to long-distance running. These data can better guide clinicians and long- distance runners with realistic expectations related to the arthroscopic management of symptomatic FAI.