Early Versus Delayed Weightbearing in Femoroacetabular Impingement Syndrome Patients

Femoroacetabular impingement syndrome (FAIS) is a condition caused by an abnormal bone structure that causes the bones on either side of the hip joint to impinge on each other during certain movements, thus causing pain. This condition can be surgically treated with hip arthroscopy. For patients undergoing hip arthroscopy, there are currently two protocols related to how they may bear their weight after surgery: 1) Delayed Weightbearing: Patients use crutches and put very little weight on the surgical side. After 6 weeks, they are able to bear weight, 2) Immediate Weightbearing: Patients bear weight on the affected side, as tolerated, immediately after surgery with crutches for additional support. They are then permitted to stop using the crutches in the weeks after surgery as they feel comfortable and are stable on the operative leg. The purpose of this study is to determine whether immediate or delayed weightbearing protocols following hip arthroscopy impact patient outcomes and complication rates. Participants will be randomly allocated into one of the two aforementioned groups, and followed up for 2 years to assess function and patient-reported outcomes.