Best Practice Guidelines for Propensity Score Methods in Medical Research: Consideration on Theory, Implementation, and Reporting. A Review.

Rigorous and reproducible methodology of controlling for bias is essential for high-quality, evidence-based studies. Propensity score matching (PSM) is a valuable way to control for bias and achieve pseudo-randomization in retrospective observation studies. The purpose of this review is to 1) provide a clear conceptual framework for PSM, 2) recommend how to best report its use in studies, and 3) offer some practical examples of implementation. First, this article covers the concepts behind PSM, discusses its pros and cons, and compares it with other methods of controlling for bias, namely, hard/exact matching and regression analysis. Second, recommendations are given for what to report in a manuscript when PSM is used. Finally, a worked example is provided, which can also serve as a template for the reader's own studies. A study's conclusions are only as strong as its methods. PSM is an invaluable tool for producing rigorous and reproducible results in observational studies. The goal of this article is to give practicing clinical physicians not only a better understanding of PSM and its implications but the ability to implement it for their own studies. STUDY DESIGN: Review.

It's not arthritis! Resolution of the illusion of joint space narrowing with acetabuloplasty and labral reconstruction for the calcified labrum.

Labral calcification may be part of the natural history of untreated femoroacetabular impingement syndrome (FAIS) in certain patients, making it a potential target for intervention with the goal of preserving the hip joint. The purpose of this study was to investigate if calcified labra create the appearance of lateral joint space narrowing and report minimum 2-year patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) after treating patients with arthroscopic acetabuloplasty and labral reconstruction. Prospectively collected data on patients who underwent primary hip arthroscopy for FAIS and labral tearing from February 2015 to April 2021 were reviewed. Patients treated with primary labral reconstruction for an intraoperatively confirmed diagnosis of labral calcification were included. A sub-analysis was performed for patients with a minimum of 2-year follow-up. Preoperative and postoperative PROMs for the modified Harris hip score, nonarthritic hip score, the International Hip Outcome Tool-12 and visual analog scale for pain were recorded. Forty-six hips (46 patients) were included, with 19 hips in the sub-analysis. There was a significant increase in apparent lateral joint space width (JSW) measured on supine anteroposterior (AP) pelvis radiographs with no significant changes in medial and central JSW and significant decreases in the lateral and anterior center-edge angles and alpha angle. Patients experienced significant increases in PROMs and high rates of achieving psychometric thresholds. Patients presenting with FAIS and calcified labra may have apparent lateral joint space narrowing on pre-operative supine AP pelvis radiographs. These patients have low rates of full-thickness femoral head and acetabular cartilage pathology, this apparent narrowing can be corrected and excellent outcomes and survivorship can be achieved, with primary labral reconstruction.

Circumferential and Segmental Arthroscopic Labral Reconstruction of the Hip Utilizing the Knotless Pull-Through Technique with All-Suture Anchors.

Appropriate labral tear management is one of the principal priorities of hip-preservation surgery. The labrum's role in the stability and biomechanics of the hip and preservation of the suction seal has been thoroughly demonstrated. Favorable patient-reported outcomes with labral reconstruction and, more recently, labral augmentation have shown that these are viable reconstructive procedures in the setting of irreparable labra. A wide variety of grafts have been used for these advanced labral restoration techniques. The present Technical Note will describe a detailed arthroscopic circumferential labral reconstruction using the pull-through technique with knotless all-suture anchors. The benefits of such can be applied to both segmental and circumferential labral reconstruction procedures, as well as labral augmentation, based on the intraoperative findings and preference of the surgeon.

Patient-Reported Outcome Scores and Rate of Return to Sport After Hip Arthroscopic Surgery: A Sex-Based Comparison in Professional and Collegiate Athletes.

BACKGROUND: No studies have compared outcomes and return to sport (RTS) after hip arthroscopic surgery between matched groups of male and female athletes with a minimum 2-year follow-up. PURPOSE: (1) To report minimum 2-year postoperative patient-reported outcome (PRO) scores and the RTS rate for elite female athletes undergoing hip arthroscopic surgery for femoroacetabular impingement (FAI) and (2) to compare clinical results with a matched control group of elite male athletes. STUDY DESIGN: Cohort study; Level of evidence, 3. METHODS: Data on all consecutive female athletes who underwent primary hip arthroscopic surgery performed at our institution between March 2009 and July 2018 were collected. Patients were eligible if they underwent hip arthroscopic surgery for labral tears or FAI and participated in collegiate or professional athletics within 1 year of surgery. Minimum 2-year postoperative PRO scores were collected for the modified Harris Hip Score (mHHS), Nonarthritic Hip Score (NAHS), Hip Outcome Score-Sport-Specific Subscale (HOS-SSS), and visual analog scale (VAS) for pain as well as RTS status. The percentages of patients achieving the minimal clinically important difference (MCID) and patient acceptable symptomatic state were recorded. These patients were matched to elite male athletes for comparison. RESULTS: A total of 73 female hips were included, with a mean follow-up of 65.1 ± 27.9 months. They demonstrated a significant improvement from preoperatively to latest follow-up on the mHHS, NAHS, HOS-SSS, and VAS (P < .05). When outcomes were compared with a control group of male athletes, female athletes demonstrated lower preoperative scores, similar postoperative scores, and a significantly greater magnitude of improvement (delta value) on the mHHS, NAHS, and VAS. Female athletes also achieved the MCID at higher rates than did male athletes for the HOS-SSS (85.1% vs 70.0%, respectively; P = .035) and NAHS (79.1% vs 62.9%, respectively; P = .037). RTS rates among patients who attempted were similar between the 2 groups (female: 75.4%; male: 83.1%; P = .409). CONCLUSION: Elite female athletes undergoing primary hip arthroscopic surgery for FAI demonstrated a significant improvement in PRO scores and a high RTS rate. Female athletes exhibited a greater improvement in PRO scores (mHHS, NAHS, VAS) and achieved the MCID (HOS-SSS, NAHS) at higher rates compared with a control group of male athletes.

Achieving Successful Outcomes in High-Level Athletes With Borderline Hip Dysplasia Undergoing Hip Arthroscopy With Capsular Plication and Labral Preservation: A Propensity-Matched Controlled Study.

BACKGROUND: Return to sports (RTS) rates and patient-reported outcomes (PROs) after hip arthroscopy in athletes with borderline dysplasia (BD) have not been established. PURPOSE: (1) To report minimum 2-year PROs and RTS rates in high-level athletes with BD who underwent hip arthroscopy for labral pathology in the setting of microinstability and (2) to compare clinical results with those of a matched control group of athletes with normal acetabular coverage. STUDY DESIGN: Cohort study; Level of evidence, 3. METHODS: Data were reviewed for surgery performed between January 2012 and July 2018. Patients were considered eligible if they received a primary hip arthroscopy in the setting of BD (lateral center-edge angle, 18°-25°) and competed in professional, collegiate, or high school sports. Inclusion criteria included preoperative and minimum 2-year follow-up scores for the modified Harris Hip Score, Non-arthritic Hip Score, Hip Outcome Score-Sport Specific Subscale, and visual analog scale for pain. Athletes with BD were matched to a control group of athletes with normal acetabular coverage (lateral center-edge angle, 25°-40°). RESULTS: A total of 65 patients with BD were included in the study with a mean ± standard deviation follow-up of 47.5 ± 20.4 months. Athletes with BD showed significant improvement in all outcome measures recorded, demonstrated high RTS rates (80.7%), and achieved the minimal clinically important difference (MCID) and Patient Acceptable Symptom State (PASS) for the Hip Outcome Score-Sport Specific Subscale at high rates (MCID, 90.8%; PASS, 75.4%). When compared with a propensity-matched control group with normal acetabular coverage, capsular plication was performed more commonly in the BD group (93.8% vs 82.7%; P = .037). PROs and RTS, PASS, and MCID rates were similar between the BD and control groups (P > .05). CONCLUSION: High-level athletes with BD who undergo primary hip arthroscopy for labral pathology in the setting of microinstability may expect favorable PROs and RTS rates at minimum 2-year follow-up. These results were comparable with those of a control group of athletes with normal coverage.