Achieving Successful Outcomes of Hip Arthroscopy in the Setting of Generalized Ligamentous Laxity with Labral Preservation and Appropriate Capsular Management: A Matched Pair Controlled Study

OBJECTIVES: (1) To report minimum two-year PROs in patients with generalized ligamentous laxity (GLL) who underwent hip arthroscopy and (2) to compare clinical results to a matched-pair control group without GLL. METHODS: Data from a prospectively collected database was retrospectively reviewed between August 2014 and December 2016. Patients were considered eligible if they received primary arthroscopic treatment for symptomatic labral tears and femoroacetabular impingement (FAI). Inclusion criteria included preoperative and minimum two-year follow-up scores for the following PROs: modified Harris Hip Score (mHHS), Non-Arthritic Hip Score (NAHS), Hip Outcome Score-Sports Specific Scale (HOS-SSS), and Visual Analogue Scale (VAS). Patients were excluded if they had preoperative Tönnis ≥ 2, ipsilateral hip condition, prior hip surgery, worker’s compensation status, or dysplasia. From the sample population, two groups were created: the GLL group (Beighton ≥ 4) and the control group (Beighton < 4). Patients were matched in a 1:2 ratio via propensity-score matching according to age, gender, body mass index (BMI), acetabular and femoral head Outerbridge grade, and preoperative lateral center-edge angle (LCEA). Patient Acceptable Symptomatic State (PASS) and Minimal Clinically Important Difference (MCID) for mHHS and HOS-SSS were calculated. PASS was also calculated for International Hip Outcome Tool-12 (iHOT-12) as well as MCID for VAS. Significant differences were noted if P < 0.05. RESULTS: 95 patients with GLL were matched to 143 control patients. Age, gender, BMI, and follow-up times were not different (P > 0.05). Preoperative radiographic measurements demonstrated no difference. Intraoperative findings and procedures between groups were similar except for capsular treatment, with the GLL group receiving more plications (P = 0.004). Both groups reported similar baseline PROs and VAS. At minimum two-year follow-up both groups showed significant improvement in PROs and VAS (P < 0.001), furthermore, the postoperative PROs at minimum two-year follow-up showed no difference (P > 0.05) and the magnitude of improvement (delta value) was similar for mHHS (P = 0.93), NAHS (P = 0.809), HOS-SSS (0.398) and VAS (P = 0.824). Moreover, groups reached comparable rates of MCID and/or PASS for mHHS, HOS-SSS, iHOT-12, and VAS. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with GLL following hip arthroscopy for symptomatic FAI and labral tears, may expect favorable outcomes with appropriate labral and capsular management at minimum two-year follow-up. When compared to a pair-matched control group without GLL, results were comparable for mHHS, NAHS, HOS-SSS, VAS and reaching PASS and/or MCID for mHHS, HOS-SSS, iHOT-12 and VAS.