Performance in National Hockey League Players Decreases One Year After Undergoing Hip Arthroscopy With Return to Baseline by the Second Year

Prior studies assessing performance in National Hockey League (NHL) players following hip arthroscopy have relied on traditional statistics (goals, assists, points) which are influenced by randomness, coaching strategy, usage, teammate performance, game script, and other factors that can lead to systematic misjudgement. Our objective was to assess performance in NHL players following hip arthroscopy using advanced statistics that do not have the shortcomings of traditional statistics. NHL players who underwent hip arthroscopy between 2008 and 2022 were identified through a publicly available injury database. Demographic and outcome data were collected for the one-year period preceding and the two-year period following surgery. Our primary outcome measure was wins above replacement per 60 minutes played (WAR/60), with secondary outcomes including offensive and defensive goals above replacement per 60 minutes played. A matched cohort was created based on position, draft year, and index season performance. Pre- and post-injury outcomes were compared using a paired T-test. Thirty-three players underwent 38 eligible procedures. Preinjury, postinjury year one, and postinjury year two WAR/60 were 0.055, 0.016, 0.02 in cases (p=0.007, p=0.019 compared to preinjury) and 0.061, 0.049, and 0.037 in controls (p=0.60, p=0.046, p=0.468) compared to cases). Offensive goals above replacement per 60 minutes played was decreased compared to presurgery one- and two-years post-surgery but only performance two years post-surgery met statistical significance (p=0.46, p=0.01). Defensive goals above replacement per 60 minutes played was decreased compared to presurgery at postsurgery year one and two, but only performance in year one was statistically significant (p=0.00, p=.19). Postinjury defensive goals above replacement per 60 minutes played was significantly decreased compared to controls at postinjury year one (p=0.004) National Hockey League performance declines one year following hip arthroscopy. This is driven by decreased defensive performance. Performance recovers by postinjury year two.