The Effect of Previous Lumbar Spine Surgery on Primary Hip Arthroscopic Surgery: A Minimum 5-Year Follow-up

Background: Previous lumbar spine surgery (LSS) may restrict spinal mobility, impacting pelvic mechanics and potentially increasing hip motion demands. Purpose: To evaluate the effect of previous LSS on the outcomes of primary hip arthroscopic surgery at a minimum 5-year follow-up. Study Design: Case control; Level of evidence, 4. Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted on patients who underwent hip arthroscopic surgery with previous LSS. Patients had completed a minimum of 5-year follow-up. A subanalysis based on the type of LSS was also conducted. Patients were matched to a control group that underwent hip arthroscopic surgery without previous LSS in a 1:3 ratio based on age at surgery, sex, acetabular Outerbridge grade, and body mass index. Comparisons of patient-reported outcome (PRO) scores, clinically relevant outcome thresholds, complications, revision hip arthroscopic surgery, and conversion to total hip arthroplasty (THA) were performed. Results: A total of 424 hips were included in the study: 106 hips with previous LSS and 318 control hips. Patients with previous LSS displayed improvements across all PRO measures. There were no differences in improvements in PRO scores or the percentage of patients reaching clinically relevant outcome thresholds based on the type of LSS. Compared with the control group, the LSS group started with significantly lower preoperative PRO scores. Yet, both groups experienced equivalent improvements in all PRO scores. Furthermore, the LSS group had worse postoperative scores for all PRO measures. Additionally, the LSS group reached the Patient Acceptable Symptom State at significantly lower rates for the mHHS (modified Harris Hip Score), NAHS (Non-Arthritic Hip Score), and HOS-SSS (Hip Outcome Score-Sports-Specific Subscale). There was no difference in the rates of complications and secondary surgery, but the LSS group converted to THA sooner, with the LSS and control groups converting to THA at 27.43 +/- 24.32 and 48.02 +/- 37.61 months, respectively (P < .05). Conclusion: Hip arthroscopic surgery for the treatment of femoroacetabular impingement and labral tears in patients with previous LSS yielded significant improvements at midterm follow-up, which were equivalent to those of a matched control group with no history of lumbar abnormalities. However, the LSS group had lower postoperative PRO scores and met the Patient Acceptable Symptom State for PRO measures at lower rates. Importantly, LSS did not influence the risk of revision arthroscopic surgery and conversion to THA. However, the LSS group converted to THA sooner than the control group.