Femoroacetabular Impingement in Professional Basketball Players: Return to Play, Career Length, and Performance After Hip Arthroscopy

Previous studies have demonstrated that hip arthroscopy is an effective treatment for symptomatic femoroacetabular impingement (FAI) in professional athletes across a variety of sports. However, the return-to-play rates and postoperative performance of elite basketball players after hip arthroscopy are currently unknown. To determine return-to-play rates and postoperative performance among professional basketball athletes after hip arthroscopy. Case series; Level of evidence, 3. Eighteen professional basketball players underwent hip arthroscopy (24 hips) for symptomatic FAI between 2001 and 2016 by a single surgeon. Return to play was defined as competing in a single professional game of equal level after surgery. Data were retrospectively obtained for each player from basketball-reference.com, ESPN.com, eurobasket.com, and individual team websites. Matched controls were selected from the websites to compare performances. The mean age at the time of surgery was 25.6 years, and the mean body mass index was 24.4 kg/m2. All players returned to their previous levels of competition, with a mean number of 4 seasons played after surgery (median, 3; range, 1-12). The mean ± SD time between the date of surgery and return to a professional game was 7.1 ± 4.4 months. There was no change in player efficiency rating when pre- and postinjury performance were compared. When compared with controls, players undergoing surgery also had no significant decline in player efficiency rating. Elite basketball athletes who undergo hip arthroscopy for the treatment of FAI return to their presurgical levels of competition at a high rate. These athletes demonstrate no significant overall decrease in performance upon their return to play