To report the preliminary clinical results for arthroscopic treatment of osseous abnormalities as a cause of femoroacetabular impingement (FAI).

We evaluated 26 patients diagnosed with FAI who were treated by arthroscopic debridement of the labrum, spur resection, and bump resection from March 2004 to March 2005. Osseous abnormalities of FAI were evaluated for the presence or absence of asphericity, pistol grip deformity, coxa vara, coxa valga, retroversion of the acetabulum, and protrusion of acetabulum were present or not. We evaluated the clinical manifestations based on patient satisfaction, sequential JOA pain scores and ranges of motion of the hips.

24 patients were satisfied postoperatively. The average JOA pain score preoperatively and postoperatively at 2 weeks, 6 weeks, 3 months, and 6 months, were 0.85, 0.71, 1.50, 1.71, and 1.86, respectively. At 2 weeks preoperatively, the clinical symptoms were aggravated and 6 months postoperatively, the clinical symptoms were improved. 11 patients could not take a cross-legged position preoperatively: but 10 of the 11 patients could take a cross-legged position postoperatively.

Preliminary clinical results for arthroscopic treatment of osseous abnormalities were satisfactory. We need to perform a follow-up study of the clinical results about the early detection of which findings and decompression of which osseous abnormalities will prevent or delay the progression of osteoarthritis through mid and long-term follow up.