Hip Arthroscopy Utilization Disparities and Complications Amongst Ethnic Groups

While hip arthroscopy (HA) has increased in recent years, limited data exists regarding utilization and outcomes among racial groups. The National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (NSQIP) database was queried for patients who underwent HA from 2006 to 2017. Patients were stratified into 6 self-reported racial/ethnic categories: White, African American, Hispanic, Asian and Pacific Islander, Native American, and Unknown. Major and minor complications in the 30-day post-operative period were identified. Data were available for 2230 patients who underwent HA. There were significant differences in the proportions of HA procedures when examining by race. White patients comprised 69% of the patient sample, African American patients 5.6%, Hispanic patients 3.9%, Asian patients 2.5%, Native American patients 0.7% and Unknown race/ethnicity patients 18.3% (P < .05). HA utilization increased significantly over time by all groups but remained low among ethnic minorities compared to the White cohort. Overall, major, and minor 30-day complication rates were 1.3%, 0.5%, and 0.9%, respectively. Although African American and Hispanic patients had higher overall complication rates than White patients, the differences were not statistically significant. Surgeons should be aware of the underutilization of HA among racial/ethnic minorities, and further studies evaluating insurance status and access to care are needed.