Postless Hip Arthroscopy Shortens Hospital Stays: New Study

Using the postless technique for hip arthroscopy resulted in shorter time from surgery to hospital discharge while not prolonging operating time, according to a new study.

The study, “Hip Arthroscopy With and Without A Perineal Post: A Comparison of Early Postoperative Pain,” published in the September, 2021 issue of the journal Arthroscopy, retrospectively reviewed patients who underwent hip arthroscopy with and without a perineal post for joint distraction.

Patients who underwent concurrent periacetabular or femoral osteotomy were excluded. Demographic information, procedure variables and visual analog scale pain scores were recorded for each patient.

Overall, there were 100 patients in each group with a mean age of 26.5 ± 9.9 years. Total operative time (Post 100.4 ± 17.9 minutes vs No Post 89.1 ± 25.5 minutes; p = .0004), traction time (Post 45.8 ± 10.3 minutes vs. No Post 40.9 ± 11.1 minutes; p = .0017) and operating room time (Post 148.8 ± 19.3 minutes vs. No Post 137.3 ± 25.8 minutes; p = .0005) were shorter in the no post group.

In addition, total morphine milligram equivalents (MME), and final visual analog pain scores (VAS) were similar between groups (MME, p = .1620; VAS, p = .2139). Time to discharge was shorter in the No Post group though (Post 207.2 ± 58.8 vs. No Post 167.5 ± 47.9, p < .0001).

Both patient age, greater than or equal to 25 years and elevated body mass index were associated with greater MME consumption. Female sex was associated with higher postoperative VAS pain scores (Females 4.1 ± 1.6 vs. Males 3.4 ± 1.8, p = .0027).

“Adoption of the postless technique did not result in prolonged operating room or operative time. Overall, both groups had similar postoperative pain; however, the time from surgery to hospital discharge was shorter in the postless group,” the researchers wrote.

The research team was:

• Andrew L. Schaver, BS, department of orthopedics and rehabilitation, University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, Iowa City, Iowa
• Nolan Mattingly, BS, department of orthopedics and rehabilitation, University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, Iowa City, Iowa
• Natalie A. Glass, PhD, department of orthopedics and rehabilitation, University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, Iowa City, Iowa
• Michael C. Willy, department of orthopedics and rehabilitation, University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, Iowa City, Iowa

Robert W. Westermann, PhD, department of orthopedics and rehabilitation, University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, Iowa City, Iowa.