Surgeon-specific Traction Time During Hip Arthroscopy for Primary Labral Repair Can Continue to Decrease after a Substantial Number of Surgeries
Abstract
Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the total traction time and traction time as a function of anchors placed (TTAP) for primary labral repair in patients undergoing hip arthroscopy by a single surgeon.
Methods: Patients were included if they received a primary labral repair with or without acetabuloplasty, chondroplasty, or ligamentum teres debridement as part of the treatment for femoroacetabular impingement (FAI). Patients were excluded if they had a previous ipsilateral hip surgery, prior hip conditions, Tönnis grade >1, open procedures, microfracture, ligamentum teres reconstruction, or labral reconstruction. TTAP was calculated by dividing total traction time by the number of anchors placed.
Results: 2,350 hips met the inclusion criteria. The mean age and BMI in this cohort were 34.22 years and 25.72 kg/m2, respectively. A total traction time of 60 minutes was first achieved after 268 cases. Mean overall total traction time was 58.16 minutes (95% CI [57.35, 58.97]) and mean TTAP was 16.24 minutes (95% CI [15.93,16.55]) after 2,350 cases. Total traction time plateaued after 374 cases at 55.92 minutes, while TTAP plateaued after 487 cases at 14.93 minutes.
Conclusion: Surgeons who introduce hip arthroscopy into their practice can expect to see improvements in traction time during the first 500 surgeries performed, as total traction time plateaued after 374 cases and TTAP plateaued after 487 cases.
Level of evidence: IV: case series.