Recovery Time for Cam Deformity Surgery
The typical recovery time for cam deformity surgery is approximately 6 weeks for basic activities, with full recovery and return to sports taking 3-6 months, depending on the patient's functional progress and rehabilitation adherence.
Immediate Post-Operative Period (0-4 weeks)
- Week 1-4: Pain-controlled progression to full weight bearing over 1-4 weeks 1
- Continuous passive motion therapy and stationary bike exercises are recommended during the first 6 weeks to prevent intraarticular adhesions 1
- During this period, patients should focus on:
- Pain management
- Gradual weight bearing as tolerated
- Basic range of motion exercises
- Prevention of hip flexor contractures
Early Recovery Phase (4-12 weeks)
- By 6 weeks: Most patients can resume basic daily activities
- Physical therapy should progress to include:
- Strengthening exercises for hip and core muscles
- Gait training
- Proprioception exercises
- Gradual return to low-impact activities
Advanced Recovery Phase (3-6 months)
- 3-4 months: Patients typically can return to light recreational activities
- 4-6 months: Return to more demanding physical activities and sports may be possible
- Follow-up imaging is often performed around this time to assess healing and correction of the deformity
Clinical Outcomes and Long-Term Recovery
- Studies show significant improvement in functional scores at approximately 2 years post-surgery 2
- The Non-Arthritic Hip Score (NAHS) typically improves from pre-operative scores of 57±19 to 78±19 at follow-up (mean 18 months) 1
- Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) scores improve from 65±21 to 82±18 over the same period 1
Factors Affecting Recovery Timeline
- Severity of the original cam deformity
- Presence of associated labral or cartilage damage
- Patient age and activity level
- Adherence to rehabilitation protocols
- Pre-existing degenerative changes
Potential Complications to Monitor
- Persistent nerve injuries (particularly to the lateral femoral cutaneous nerve) 1
- Inadequate deformity correction requiring revision surgery
- Development of intra-articular adhesions
- Progression of joint degeneration despite surgery
Long-Term Outcomes
- When properly performed, cam deformity correction shows no recurrence of the deformity at 2-year follow-up 3
- Surgical correction of cam deformity improves not only clinical function but also appears to stabilize cartilage degeneration and decrease bone mineral density in the impingement zone 2
- These changes suggest an improvement in overall joint health following successful cam deformity correction 2
The recovery timeline should be adjusted based on clinical progress, with careful attention to preventing both under-rehabilitation (risking stiffness and adhesions) and over-aggressive rehabilitation (risking inflammation and setbacks).