Primary Open Abductor Reconstruction: A 5 to 10-Year Study

Area of Science:

• Orthopedic Surgery
• Musculoskeletal Research
• Biomedical Engineering

Background:

• Gluteal tears, often causing greater trochanteric pain, are a significant clinical challenge.
• Investigating the long-term outcomes of surgical intervention for these tears is crucial for patient management.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the efficacy of primary open abductor tendon reconstruction for gluteal tears.
• To assess the functional outcomes and pain relief at a 5-10 year follow-up.

Main Methods:

• A cohort of 165 consecutive hips underwent open abductor tendon reconstruction.
• Preoperative magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) confirmed all tears.
• Oxford Hip Scores (OHS) were used for functional assessment at baseline and 5-10 years post-surgery.

Main Results:

• The average preoperative Oxford Hip Score (OHS) was 22, significantly improving to an average of 40 postoperatively (P < .0001).
• A mean improvement of 18 points in OHS was observed, indicating substantial functional recovery.
• The study highlights a significant difference between preoperative and long-term postoperative scores.

Conclusions:

• Open abductor tendon reconstruction is a reliable surgical option for managing gluteal tears confirmed by MRI.
• The procedure offers significant and sustained pain relief for patients experiencing greater trochanteric pain due to tendon disruption.
• Consideration of surgical reconstruction is warranted when clinical findings align with MRI-diagnosed tendon tears.