Hip Arthroscopic Labrum Repair May Resolve Back Pain, Too!

A recent study (1) found patients with co-existing low back and hip pain may have significant relief after hip arthroscopy to correct Femeroacetabular Impingement (FAI).

Specifically, FAI is a condition where the rubbing of an “out-of-round” upper femur against the hip socket squeezes and subsequently tears the labrum. This causes pain, “catching” and difficulty with twisting motions of the hip. Pain may be felt in the groin, thigh, side of the hip, buttocks or lower back area. The mechanism of pain referral is akin to a bike chain, and the transmission via linkage from the hip to the pelvic, SI joints, and lower lumbar spine (2).

Disability scores (3) of hip/spine areas increased 66% after hip arthroscopy to re-shape the femur or acetabulum (FAI correction) and fix the labrum. Even adolescents with these FAI problems have reported lasting improvement beyond Five Years (4).

References:
1. Sun,Y. et al: Back pain and Function after Hip FAI Surgery; Arthroscopy, Vol 37, No 4 (April) 2021:pp1163-69
2. Leong,NL,et al: Influence of pain in other major joints and spine on 2-year outcomes after hip arthroscopy;
Arthroscopy 2018; 34:3196-3201
3. Fairbank JC. Oswestry disability index. J Neurosurg Spine 2014;20:239-41
4. Beck,EW, et al. 5-yr outcomes after hip arthroscopy in Adolescents with FAI; Arthroscopy: Vol 37 No 5 (May) 2021: 1467-73