Increase in health problems up to 2 years after arthroscopic hip surgery

Editor's Note

Major clinical comorbidities increased substantially in patients after elective arthroscopic hip surgery in this study by Duke researchers. These comorbidities have been overlooked in the past by major studies evaluating the procedure’s benefits and risks, the researchers say.

In this analysis of 1,870 patients (mean age 32) in the Military Health System Data Repository, postoperative incidences of all comorbidities increased substantially:

• Mental health disorders increased 84%
• Chronic pain diagnoses jumped 166%
• Substance abuse went up 57%
• Cardiovascular disorders rose 71%
• Metabolic syndrome cases increased 85.9%
• Arthritis jumped 132%
• Sleep disorders went up 111%.

Among this younger group of patients, the number and frequency of hidden complications that arose after elective hip surgery suggests that a more holistic approach is needed that proactively assesses patients for risks other than the standard surgical complications, the authors note.