Clinical outcomes of open hip abductor tendon repair with minimum two-year follow-up.

Abstract

The results of open hip abductor tendon repair remains poorly defined. We sought to present the results and complications of this procedure using modern suture anchor fixation. Our prospective institutional hip preservation registry was queried for all patients who underwent open hip abductor tendon repair with minimum 2-year follow-up were identified. Demographic, clinical, intraoperative, and functional outcome details were recorded. Patient-reported outcome scores (PROs) including the modified Harris Hip Score (mHHS), HOS-ADL, HOS-S, and iHOT-33 were collected for the preoperative and final postoperative state. Risk factors for lower final mHHS and change in mHHS were analysed using a multiple regression model. A total of 21 patients with mean 48 months clinical follow-up (range 24-84 months). Median mHHS improved from 49.50 preoperatively to 82.50 postoperatively (p < 0.001), median HOS-ADL improved from 60.29 to 82.35 (p = 0.001), median HOS-S improved from 37.50 to 60.00 (p = 0.04), and median iHOT-33 improved from 29.81 to 70.15 (p = 0.001). All patients had +4 or +5 hip abductor strength at final in-person examination at mean 17 months postoperatively. All patients with a preoperative Trendelenburg gait had complete resolution at final examination. There 2 complications, and no patient had re-tear or revision surgery. LCEA < 25° and a history of prior ipsilateral hip surgery were independently predictive of smaller improvement in mHHS at final follow-up. Open abductor tendon repair is a safe and effective procedure that provides sustained symptomatic and functional improvements at mid-term follow-up.