Reaction Time and Brake Pedal Depression Following Arthroscopic Hip Surgery: A Prospective Case-Control Study

Area of Science:

• Orthopedics
• Biomechanics
• Sports Medicine

Background:

• Femoroacetabular impingement (FAI) is a hip condition that can affect motor function.
• Understanding the impact of FAI on driving-related abilities is crucial for patient safety and recovery.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare brake reaction times (BRT) in patients with FAI versus controls.
• To determine the duration of postoperative BRT impairment following arthroscopic hip surgery for FAI.

Main Methods:

• Prospective comparative study involving 59 FAI patients and 59 controls.
• Brake reaction time (BRT) and brake pedal depression (BPD) measured preoperatively and at 2, 4, and 6 weeks postoperatively.
• Mixed effects models used for statistical analysis.

Main Results:

• FAI patients exhibited significantly prolonged BRT preoperatively compared to controls.
• Left hip surgery patients showed no significant difference in BRT or BPD postoperatively.
• Right hip surgery patients had significantly prolonged BRT at 2 weeks postoperatively, returning to baseline by 4 weeks.

Conclusions:

• Arthroscopic surgery for left hip FAI does not impair BRT or BPD postoperatively.
• Right hip surgery for FAI leads to prolonged BRT for up to 4 weeks.
• The clinical significance of the observed BRT prolongation requires further investigation.