Medium-term results of arthroscopic hip surgery compared with physiotherapy and activity modification for the treatment of femoroacetabular impingement syndrome: a multi-centre randomised controlled trial

Objective To report a 3-year follow-up from the FemoroAcetabular Impingement Trial, comparing arthroscopic surgery with physiotherapy in the management of femoroacetabular impingement (FAI) syndrome for the dual primary outcomes of radiographic hip osteoarthritis (OA) and patient-reported outcome measures of activities of daily living. Methods Two-group parallel, assessor-blinded, pragmatic randomised controlled trial across seven sites. 222 participants aged 18–60 years with FAI syndrome confirmed clinically and radiologically were randomised (1:1) to receive arthroscopic hip surgery (n=112) or physiotherapy (n=110). Dual primary outcome measure was minimum joint space width (mJSW) on anteroposterior radiograph at 38 months post-randomisation and Hip Outcome Score ADL (HOS ADL) (higher score indicates superior outcomes). Secondary outcome measures were Scoring Hip Osteoarthritis with MRI (SHOMRI) (lower score indicates less pathology). Results mJSW, HOS ADL and MRI data were available for 45%, 77% and 62% of participants at 38 months, respectively. No significant difference in mJSW was seen between groups at 38 months. HOS ADL was higher in the arthroscopy group (mean (SD) 84.2 (17.4)) compared with the physiotherapy group (74.2 (21.9)), difference 8.9 (95% CI 7.0, 10.8)). SHOMRI score total at 38 months was lower in the arthroscopy group (mean (SD) 9.22 (11.43)) compared with the physiotherapy group (22.76 (15.26)), differences (95% CIs) −15.94 (–18.69, –13.19). Conclusions No difference was seen between groups on radiographic measures of OA progression. Patients with FAI syndrome treated surgically may experience superior pain and function outcomes, and less MRI-measured cartilage damage compared with physiotherapy. Trial registration number NCT01893034 .