Correlation of Short Form-36 and disability status with outcomes of arthroscopic acetabular labral debridement

BACKGROUND: Arthroscopic debridement is the standard of care for the treatment of acetabular labral tears. The Short Form-36 has not been used to measure hip arthroscopy outcomes, and the impact of disability status on hip arthroscopy outcomes has not been reported. HYPOTHESIS: Short Form-36 subscale scores will demonstrate good correlation with the modified Harris hip score, but patients undergoing disability evaluation will have significantly worse outcome scores. STUDY DESIGN: Case series; Level of evidence, 4. METHODS: The records of active-duty soldiers who underwent hip arthroscopy at the authors' institution were retrospectively reviewed. Forty consecutive patients who underwent hip arthroscopy for the primary indication of labral tear formed the basis of the study group. Patients completed the modified Harris hip score, the Short Form-36 general health survey, and a subjective overall satisfaction questionnaire. RESULTS: Thirty-three patients, with a mean age of 34.6 years, were available for follow-up at a mean of 25.7 months postoperatively. Fourteen (43%) patients were undergoing medical evaluation boards (military equivalent of workers' compensation or disability claim). Pearson correlation coefficients for comparing the Short Form-36 Bodily Pain, Physical Function, and Physical Component subscale scores to the modified Harris hip score were 0.73, 0.71, and 0.85, respectively (P < .001). The mean modified Harris hip score was significantly lower in patients on disability status than in those who were not (92.4 vs 61.1; P < .0001). The Short Form-36 subscale scores were significantly lower in disability patients (P < .02). Patient-reported satisfaction rates (70% overall) were 50% for those undergoing disability evaluations and 84% for those who were not (P < .04). There was no significant difference in outcomes based on patient age, surgically proven chondromalacia, or gender for military evaluation board status. CONCLUSION: The Short Form-36 demonstrated good correlation with the modified Harris hip score for measuring outcomes after arthroscopic partial limbectomy. Arthroscopic debridement yielded a high percentage of good results when patients undergoing disability evaluations were excluded. Disability status may be a negative predictor of success after hip arthroscopy.