Approach to the Patient With Failed Hip Arthroscopy for Labral Tears and Femoroacetabular Impingement

Abstract

There has been an exponential increase in the diagnosis and treatment of patients with femoroacetabular impingement, leading to a rise in the number of hip arthroscopies done annually. Despite reliable pain relief and functional improvements after hip arthroscopy in properly indicated patients, and due to these increased numbers, there is a growing number of patients who have persistent pain after surgery. The etiology of these continued symptoms is multifactorial, and clinicians must have a fundamental understanding of these causes to properly diagnose and manage these patients. Factors contributing to failure after surgery include those related to the patient, the surgeon, and the postoperative physical therapy. This review highlights common causes of failure, including those related to residual bony deformity as well as capsular deficiency, and provides a framework for diagnosis and treatment of these patients.