Hip Arthroscopy Utilization Disparities and Complications Amongst Ethnic Groups

Area of Science:

• Orthopedic Surgery
• Health Disparities
• Surgical Outcomes

Background:

• Hip arthroscopy (HA) has seen increased utilization in recent years.
• Limited data exists on racial and ethnic disparities in HA procedures and outcomes.
• Understanding these disparities is crucial for equitable healthcare delivery.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze racial and ethnic differences in hip arthroscopy utilization.
• To compare 30-day post-operative complication rates among different racial and ethnic groups undergoing HA.
• To identify potential barriers to HA access for minority populations.

Main Methods:

• Utilized the National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (NSQIP) database from 2006 to 2017.
• Stratified 2230 HA patients into six self-reported racial/ethnic categories.
• Identified and analyzed major and minor post-operative complications within 30 days.

Main Results:

• Significant differences in HA procedure proportions were observed across racial groups (P < .05).
• White patients constituted 69% of the sample; ethnic minorities were underrepresented.
• HA utilization increased over time for all groups but remained disproportionately low for minorities.
• Overall 30-day complication rates were 1.3% (major 0.5%, minor 0.9%).
• African American and Hispanic patients had higher, though not statistically significant, complication rates than White patients.

Conclusions:

• Racial and ethnic minorities are underutilizing hip arthroscopy compared to White patients.
• While not statistically significant, higher complication rates in minority groups warrant attention.
• Further research into insurance status and access to care is needed to address these disparities.