Postless Hip Arthroscopy in the Lateral Decubitus Position Is Safe and Associated With Low Rates of Traction-Related...

To evaluate the incidence of traction-related complications in the early postoperative period after postless hip arthroscopy with patients in the lateral decubitus position.

This retrospective study included patients undergoing hip arthroscopy by a single fellowship-trained orthopaedic surgeon from January 2019 to June 2022. Patients were included if they underwent unilateral labral repair, femoroplasty, and/or acetabuloplasty within the study period; attended all 3 postoperative visits over a period of 12 weeks; and were treated with the described surgical technique. Patients who underwent concomitant periacetabular or femoral osteotomy were excluded. Intraoperative traction force, duration, and adequacy were recorded. Postoperative complications and neuropathic symptoms were queried at postoperative visits up to 12 weeks after hip arthroscopy. Data were analyzed using t tests, with the level of significance set at P < .05.

A total of 242 patients (151 females and 91 males) aged 17 to 70 years were included. The mean traction force was 66.74 ± 20.62 pounds-force (lbf), with a mean traction duration of 62.73 ± 19.35 minutes. Neuropathic symptoms occurred in only 7 patients (2.89%), with 42.86% resolving within 3 months. Compared to male patients, female patients required significantly less traction force (56.67 ± 12.17 lbf vs 83.63 ± 21.37 lbf, P < .001) and traction time (59.54 ± 17.41 minutes vs 67.93 ± 21.25 minutes, P = .0015). The postoperative symptom incidence was higher in male patients (6.59%) than female patients (0.66%, P = .012).

Postless hip arthroscopy performed in the lateral decubitus position shows low rates of traction-related neuropathic complications.

Level IV, therapeutic case series.