Complications following hip arthroscopy: a retrospective review of the McMaster experience (2009-2012)

Background: The use of hip arthroscopy has been steadily rising as technology, experience and surgical education continue to advance. Previous reports of the complication rate associated with hip arthroscopy have varied. The purpose of this study was to report our experience with hip arthroscopy complications at a single Canadian institution (McMaster University). Methods: We performed a retrospective chart review of 2 hip arthroscopists at the same institution to identify patients who had undergone the index surgery and had been followed for a minimum of 6 months postoperatively. We used a standard data entry form to collect information on patient demographic and clinical characteristics, including age, sex, surgical indication and type of complication if any. Results: A total of 211 patients underwent 236 hip arthroscopies. The mean age at time of surgery was 37 +/- 13 years and mean follow-up was 394 +/- 216.5 days. The overall complication rate associated with hip arthroscopy was 4.2% (95% confidence interval 2.3%-7.6%). We identified 4 major and 6 minor complications. Conclusion: Overall, hip arthroscopy appears to be safe, with minor complications occurring more frequently than major ones. However, surgeons should recognize the possibility of serious complications associated with this procedure. Future research should focus on prospective designs looking for potential prognostic factors associated with hip arthroscopy complications.