Researchers have found that arthroscopy of the hip can help patients with femoroacetabular impingement recover faster than with physiotherapy treatments.
Ahead of the FIFA World Cup, British researchers found that arthroscopy – a surgical technique that allows you to explore the inside of a joint with an endoscope – can help injured footballers get back on their feet. field faster than physiotherapeutic treatments.
Led by the University of Warwick, Bristol and Keele, the study published in The Lancet analyzed two treatments for femoroacetabular impingement syndrome (CFA), which is a repetition of hip micro-trauma caused by intensive foot and leg movements, necessary in certain sports such as football or boxing.
Young athletes are the most exposed
The pain is usually in the groin area and can be bothersome in the long term. In particular, it can cause damage to the delicate cartilage that lines the cavity and is particularly debilitating for active people. As the damage accumulates, their pain worsens, causing loss of movement. The femoro-acetabular conflict mainly affects young adults, especially those who practice regular physical activity.
In this new study, researchers conducted the world’s first randomized trial to demonstrate the benefits of hip arthroscopy (also known as lock surgery), which can be used to repair hip damage and to reshape the ball of the joint so that it becomes round again.
“Much like a square peg in a round hole, the egg-shaped ball rubs unevenly against the socket. We’re not sure exactly why some hips are egg-shaped rather than round, but it’s clear this can result in problems, ”says Damian Griffin, professor of trauma and orthopedic surgery at the University of Warwick, who led the study.
More efficient follow-up thanks to arthroscopy
The team’s clinical trial took place over a period of five years and involved the collaboration of 23 hospitals across the UK. Between July 2012 and July 2016, 348 participants were recruited and then randomly divided into two groups. Patients in the first group were given hip arthroscopy and 177 were randomized to receive personalized hip physiotherapy programs.
The researchers then compared the effectiveness of the new treatment to physiotherapy programs and found that patients improved with both treatments, but were significantly better a year later in those undergoing hip arthroscopy.
“DWI is a painful disease that tends to affect active young people – from professional footballers to anyone involved in an active hobby. It can force them to give up sports and hobbies, to fight physically. at work and even quitting jobs that require a significant amount of physical activity. We want to find out how to help these people recover as quickly as possible, get them back to work, lead pain-free daily lives and practice their sport, “says Damian Griffin.
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