Arthroscopic labral repair versus debridement in non-athletic patients with femoroacetabular impingement: A prospective randomized study.

PURPOSE: To compare functional outcomes and pain scores between arthroscopic labral repair and selective labral debridement in a strictly defined non-athletic population with femoroacetabular impingement (FAI).

METHODS: Between February 2024 and April 2025, 60 non-athletic patients (mean age 32.1 years) with symptomatic FAI were randomized to labral repair (n = 30) or debridement (n = 30). Non-athletic status was defined as individuals who engaged in non-competitive activity levels <3 h per week. All patients underwent concomitant cam/pincer resection as needed. The primary outcome was patient-reported clinical outcome, assessed using the Harris Hip Score (HHS), Hip Outcome Score-Activities of Daily Living (HOS-ADL) and Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) for pain, assessed preoperatively and postoperatively at 1, 3, 6 and 12 months.

RESULTS: The repair group showed statistically superior HHS and HOS-ADL scores at 3 and 6 months postoperatively (p ≤ 0.021). By the 12-month final follow-up, outcomes converged, with no significant differences in HHS (93.2 vs. 90.0, p = 0.058), HOS-ADL (90.0% vs. 86.6%, p = 0.149) or VAS pain (1.6 vs. 2.0, p = 0.375). Complication rates were similar (36.7% vs. 33.3%, p = 0.787), but operative time was longer for repair (119.3 vs. 99.7 min, p = 0.001).

CONCLUSION: In non-athletic patients with FAI, labral repair was associated with superior early functional outcomes; however, no statistically significant differences between the two groups were detected at 12 months. Further studies with larger sample sizes and longer follow-up are needed to determine whether meaningful long-term differences exist between the two procedures.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level I, randomized controlled trial.