Outcomes for Complete Versus Partial Capsular Closure in Hip Arthroscopy for FAIS

success and higher survivorship compared with partial capsular closure at a minimum of five years of follow-up.

The study included 379 consecutive patients undergoing hip arthroscopy for FAIS by a single fellowship-trained surgeon from January 2011 to March 2013; 39 underwent partial T-capsulotomy repair and 340 underwent complete T-capsulotomy repair. Baseline data, hip-specific outcomes, and clinical failure rates were recorded at a minimum of five years of follow-up postoperatively. Patient receiving partial T-capsulotomy repair were matched 1:3 by age, body mass index, and sex to patients with complete T-capsulotomy repair. A total of 100 patients were included in the matching (25 partial and 75 complete repair).

Between the two groups, there were no statistical differences in radiographic parameters, including Tonnis grade, alpha angle, and lateral center edge angle (P>0.05 for all). Comparison of postoperative score averages between partial and complete closure groups demonstrated a significant difference in the Hip Outcome Score (HOS) activities of daily living (85.4 ± 17.7 vs. 94.6 ± 7.8; P<0.001), HOS-sports specific (76.6 ± 26.2 vs. 89.3 ± 16.8; P=0.034), modified Harris Hip Score (83.2 ± 19.7 vs. 90.5 ± 11.2; P=0.035), and visual analog scale pain score (24.5 ± 30.8 vs. 13.4 ± 15.8; P=0.035).

A total of 65 patients (95.6%) who underwent complete repair achieved minimal clinically important difference on at least one outcome measure versus 18 (78.3%) who underwent partial repair (P=0.04). A total of 69 patients (92%) who underwent complete repair achieved Patient Acceptable Symptomatic State on at least one outcome measure versus 18 patients (72%) who underwent partial repair (P=0.017).

Patients with partial capsular repair underwent revision or conversion to total hip arthroplasty (THA) at high rates, the researchers noted: Of the 39 partial repair patients, 35.9% (n=14) underwent revision or THA conversion compared with 2.9% (n=10) in the overall cohort.