Abstract
Background: There are few studies examining the effects of marijuana use on outcomes after surgery for femoroacetabular impingement syndrome (FAIS). Purpose: To determine if marijuana use effects 1) patient reported outcome measures or 2) complication rate after hip arthroscopy for FAIS. Study Design: Cohort Study; Level of Evidence, 2. Methods: Data were prospectively collected from patients with a minimum of 2-year follow-up after arthroscopic treatment for FAIS. Inclusion criteria included undergoing primary hip arthroscopy for FAIS and completion of both preoperative and 2-year postoperative Hip Disability and Osteoarthritis Outcome Scores (HOOS) surveys. Exclusion criteria included labral reconstruction or any concomitant procedures. Primary outcomes were the HOOS subscales. Secondary outcomes included surgical complications and subsequent hip surgery. Patients were divided into two cohorts according to preoperative self-reported marijuana use. Additional predictors included patient demographics, tobacco use status, radiographic and intraoperative data, and preoperative HOOS scores. Differences between groups from baseline to 2-year follow up for each HOOS subscale were analyzed using independent t-tests and chi square tests. Results: Included were 101 patients: 31 in the marijuana user cohort and 70 in the non-user cohort. Baseline demographics between cohorts were similar in most categories, except for a statistically greater history of tobacco use (54.8% vs 14.3%, p<0.001). All mean HOOS subscale scores increased significantly from preoperative to postoperative in both the user and non-user groups (all p<0.005). The mean changes were all also clinically significant based on MCID values. Mean HOOS change scores and rates of Minimal Clinically Important Difference (MCID) achievement were similar between groups, except for the Pain subscale, where more non-users achieved MCID than users (p=0.026). Rates of complications and revisions were similar between users and non-users. Conclusion: Marijuana users had similar favorable outcomes to non-users after arthroscopic treatment for FAIS at 2-year follow up.