Editorial Commentary: Female Patients With Lower Body Mass Index Show the Best Outcomes After Hip Arthroscopy, and Arthroscopic Treatment of Femoroacetabular Impingement in Higher-Body Mass Index Female Patients Results in Improved Outcomes

Abstract

Which patients will benefit most from hip arthroscopy? Careful patient selection and conservative indications, such as patients with an alpha angle of 60° or greater or a lateral center-edge angle of 40° or greater who fail a trial of conservative treatment, may benefit from hip arthroscopy for femoroacetabular impingement (FAI). In female patients in particular, a lower body mass index (BMI) will predict the most benefit from arthroscopic treatment. That said, patients with a higher BMI can also substantially improve after treatment of FAI. The true art of medicine is determining indications for an individual patient in addition to providing evidence-based counseling and education. We must not forget that sometimes "any improvement" can be a good outcome for a patient who is in pain.