Przejdź do treściA new systematic review suggests that carefully selected patients aged 40 or older can have durable improvement after hip arthroscopy for femoroacetabular impingement syndrome (FAIS). This does not mean that age no longer matters, or that surgery is better than non-operative treatment for every patient.
What was studied?
The review, published online on 14 September 2026, included nine studies with 451 patients and 467 hips. Follow-up ranged from 60 to 167 months — five years to almost fourteen years. The studies evaluated people aged at least 40 who underwent hip arthroscopy for FAIS.
What did the review find?
Across the included studies, pain and functional outcome scores generally improved and the gains were often maintained at longer follow-up. When comparisons with younger groups were available, age-related differences were not consistent. Some patients nevertheless later underwent total hip arthroplasty; reported conversion rates ranged from 2.9% to 13.2%.
What should a patient discuss with an orthopaedic surgeon?
Being over 40 should not, by itself, determine whether hip arthroscopy is appropriate. Symptoms, clinical examination, the condition of the cartilage and labrum, radiographic findings and whether the presentation is actually consistent with FAIS all matter.
The review did not provide a randomised comparison of arthroscopy with a well-delivered rehabilitation programme. It therefore cannot establish that surgery is the best first option. Rather, it shows that improvement after arthroscopy can be durable in selected patients over 40, while the risk of later joint replacement is not zero.
Important limitations
The review combined studies of differing quality and was classified as Level IV evidence. Patient groups, procedures and outcome reporting varied, so the numerical ranges are not a prediction for an individual patient. This summary was prepared from the public abstract and bibliographic record; the full text was not used. The PubMed record showed no correction or retraction when checked on 15 September 2026.
Source
Lehman AC, Lee S, Berzolla E, Lezak BA, Youm T. Hip Arthroscopy for Femoroacetabular Impingement Syndrome in Patients Aged ≥40 Years Produces Durable Functional Improvement With Moderate Survivorship Compared With Younger Cohorts: A Systematic Review. Arthroscopy. Published online 14 September 2026. PubMed PMID 42734296.
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This material is for general information and does not replace individual assessment for treatment.
Content prepared by: Tomasz Poboży - orthopaedic surgeon.