Postoperative Brace Use After Hip Arthroscopy: A Systematic Review.

Area of Science:

• Orthopedic Surgery
• Sports Medicine
• Rehabilitation Science

Background:

• Hip bracing following hip arthroscopy is a common practice among orthopedic surgeons.
• Currently, there is a lack of evidence-based support, including comparative studies and clinical trials, to validate its effectiveness.

Purpose of the Study:

• To summarize the current rates and indications for hip bracing after hip arthroscopy.
• To document surgeons' preferences regarding brace use and identify the types of braces employed.
• To assess the existing literature on post-arthroscopic hip bracing practices.

Main Methods:

• A systematic review of PubMed, Embase, and Medline databases was performed.
• Two independent reviewers identified and selected relevant original research articles published before January 2022.
• A total of 14 studies met the inclusion criteria for analysis.

Main Results:

• Up to 40% of orthopedic surgeons utilize hip bracing post-arthroscopy.
• The surgical indications for brace use were highly variable among practitioners.
• While brace duration recommendations differed, consistent restrictions on range of motion were noted.

Conclusions:

• Despite its prevalence, there is insufficient evidence to confirm that hip bracing improves patient outcomes after hip arthroscopy.
• Higher levels of evidence are required to ascertain the physical, mental, and economic benefits and costs associated with post-arthroscopic hip bracing.