Abstract

We retrospectively evaluated outcome, complications, reoperations and global patient satisfaction 5 to 10 years after an arthroscopy of the central compartment of the hip joint in 56 consecutive patients. All patients suffered from unsolved hip pain for at least 6 months, had a positive Flexion-Adduction-Internal rotation test (FADIR-test) and a normal radiograph. The mean follow-up was 72 months (range: 60 to 120 months). Thirty-seven patients were male and 19 female, with a mean age of 34 years (range, 17 to 59 years). Forty-five were improved (6 only temporarily) and 11 had no improvement (7 underwent total hip arthroplasty). Outcome and patient satisfaction differ significantly and are primarily determined by the grade of cartilage damage. Patient satisfaction 5 to 10 years after an arthroscopy of the central compartment of the hip is high : 80% (n = 45) of the patients would undergo the same procedure again.