Summary

While hip arthroscopy may still yield clinical benefit in drinkers, patients who consume heavy amounts of alcohol may ultimately achieve an inferior functional status and should be counseled on drinking cessation in order to optimize their results.

Abstract

Purpose

Report 2-year outcomes of hip arthroscopy in patients who consume alcohol compared to a control group of patients who abstain.

Methods

From February 2008 to July 2015, data were prospectively collected and retrospectively reviewed to identify patients who consume alcohol at the time of primary hip arthroscopy. Patients were matched 1:1 (heavy:non-drinkers) based on age ±5 years, sex, BMI ±5 kg/m2, acetabular Outerbridge grade (0-1 vs. 2-4), and capsular treatment (repair vs. release). Patients were assessed with modified Harris Hip Score (mHHS), Non-Arthritic Hip Score (NAHS), Hip Outcome Score-Sport Specific Subscale (HOS-SSS), and International Hip Outcome Tool 12 (iHOT-12). Pain was estimated with the Visual Analog Scale (VAS). Satisfaction was measured from 0-10.

Results

Forty-two patients were included in each group matched on demographics, preoperative radiographic measurements, and intraoperative findings and procedures. Both groups demonstrated significant improvement for all PROs and VAS at latest follow-up. Heavy drinking group reported lesser improvement in HOS-SSS scores (P=0.0169), smaller decrease in pain ratings (P=0.0157), and lower final scores on the iHOT-12 (P=0.0302), SF-12 mental (P=0.0086), and VR-12 mental (P=0.0151) questionnaires. Significantly fewer patients in the heavy drinking group reached PASS for mHHS (P=0.0464): odds were 2.5 times higher for patients who abstain compared to those who drank heavily.

Conclusion

At latest follow-up, heavy drinkers had diminished improvement in PRO scores for HOS-SSS and VAS questionnaires as well as lower scores on iHOT-12 and mental components of SF-12 and VR-12. Odds of achieving PASS for mHHS was 2.5 times higher for patients who never consumed alcohol. These results show that while hip arthroscopy may still yield clinical benefit in drinkers, patients who consume heavy amounts of alcohol may ultimately achieve an inferior functional status and should be counseled on drinking cessation in order to optimize their results.

Level of Evidence: III, cohort study