Do Iatrogenic Punctures of the Labrum Affect the Clinical Results of Hip Arthroscopy?

PURPOSE: To document the effect of iatrogenic labral punctures (ILPs) on the clinical results of hip arthroscopy. METHODS: From a database of 250 consecutive patients who had their hip arthroscopy performed by the senior author, 50 patients with ILPs were identified. Results of hip arthroscopy in these patients were compared with those of a matched group of 50 patients who did not have labral puncture (NLP). All hips were assessed with Byrd's 100-point modified Harris hip scoring system before arthroscopy and at 3, 6, 12, and 24 months after surgery. RESULTS: The mean age of the ILP and NLP patients was 40 and 36 years, respectively, and their preoperative scores averaged 36 points. Mean joint distraction was 13 mm and 15 mm in the ILP and NLP patients, respectively, and a positive "Byrd's sign" was seen in both the ILP (84%) and NLP (42%) patients. After surgery, the ILP and NLP patients had 6-month scores that averaged 85 and 88 points, respectively. At 12 months, their scores averaged 88 and 90 points, respectively, and after 24 months, their scores averaged 88 and 89 points, respectively. At all follow-up intervals, there were no significant differences between the scores of the 2 groups (P > .05). CONCLUSIONS: ILPs did not affect the 1- and 2-year clinical results of patients who sustained these injuries during hip arthroscopy. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level III, case-control study.