Unplanned Emergency Room Visits following Hip Arthroscopy

Hip arthroscopy is an increasingly common orthopedic procedure. Although the number of reported complications is low, emergency room visits in the early postoperative period do occur. This study aims to evaluate the impact of demographic, insurance, and clinical factors on the likelihood of postoperative emergency department (ED) visits following hip arthroscopy. Through the identification of key risk factors, including insurance status, comorbidities, and procedural specifics, the objective of this study is to inform clinical practices and enhance patient outcomes through targeted risk management.

A retrospective review of a multi-center institutional database identified patients who underwent hip arthroscopy between 2014 and 2022. Medical records were analyzed for ED visits within the first 30 postoperative days. Diagnoses leading to ED visits were classified by pathology such as pain, musculoskeletal, or infection. Factors associated with increased odds of ED visits were assessed utilizing a multivariate regression analysis.

Of the 879 hip arthroscopies, 3.1% of patients had ED visits within 30 postoperative days. Medicaid patients were 2.88 times more likely to visit the ED (P=0.025). The presence of hypertension (P=0.013) or autoimmune conditions (P=0.041) further increased the odds. The use of a capsular closure technique during surgery reduced ED visits by 69.1% (P=0.026).

Following hip arthroscopy, patients with Medicaid insurance, hypertension, and auto-immune disorders are more likely to require ED visits within 30 days. In contrast, the use of a capsular closure technique significantly reduces the likelihood of such visits.