Monthly Research Update - September 2026 | American Hip Institute | Hip Surgeon Chicago IL

September 2026

Researchers at the American Hip Institute studied patients who underwent surgery to repair the gluteus medius tendon after a previous total hip replacement. At follow-up, patients reported significantly less pain and improved hip function, with results maintained for an average of more than four years.
What this means for patients: Persistent pain on the outside of the hip after hip replacement may be related to damage to the tendons that support the hip. For some patients, repairing these tendons may help reduce pain and improve daily activities, even after hip replacement surgery.
Read the research on PubMed.

Researchers at the American Hip Institute studied patients with extra bone coverage around the hip socket who underwent hip arthroscopy to treat hip impingement and labral tears. After at least five years, patients experienced significant improvements in hip function, pain, and activity-related outcomes, similar to patients without extra bone coverage. However, patients with extra bone coverage were twice as likely to need another hip arthroscopy.
What this means for patients: Hip arthroscopy can improve pain and function for patients with extra bone coverage around the hip, but they may have a higher chance of needing another surgery. Careful evaluation and treatment planning are important when deciding whether surgery is the right option.
Read the research on PubMed.

Researchers at the American Hip Institute compared competitive athletes treated for hip impingement and labral tears using modern versus older hip arthroscopy techniques. Both groups improved, but athletes treated with modern techniques—including repairing the tissue that surrounds the hip joint—reported better hip function and were more likely to return to sports (97.6% vs. 81%).
What this means for patients: Advances in hip arthroscopy may help athletes achieve better outcomes and return to sports after surgery. The surgical approach used to treat the hip may play an important role in recovery and long-term function.
Read the research on PubMed.

Researchers at the American Hip Institute studied patients with unusually flexible joints who underwent hip arthroscopy to treat hip impingement and labral tears. Most patients had similar outcomes regardless of joint flexibility, but those with the highest levels of flexibility experienced more pain and slower recovery during the first year. Over time, their outcomes became comparable to those of patients with less flexible joints.
What this means for patients: Patients with very flexible joints may need more time to recover after hip arthroscopy, but slower early progress does not necessarily mean worse long-term results. Understanding each patient's joint flexibility can help set realistic recovery expectations.
Read the research on PubMed.

Researchers studied how different numbers and placements of surgical anchors affect how firmly a repaired tendon presses against the bone. In a laboratory model of a large tendon tear, adding a third anchor increased the force compressing the tendon against the bone by 37% compared with a two-anchor repair.
What this means for patients: For some large tendon tears, using an additional anchor may help the tendon make better contact with the bone during repair. However, this was a laboratory study, so further research is needed to determine whether this technique leads to better healing or outcomes for patients.
Read the research on PubMed Central.

Researchers at the American Hip Institute followed athletes with borderline hip dysplasia for at least 10 years after hip arthroscopy to repair the labrum and tighten the tissue surrounding the hip joint. About 87% of athletes who attempted to return to sports were successful, and more than 80% of those who continued pursuing their sport at the 10-year mark were still participating successfully.
What this means for patients: Athletes with borderline hip dysplasia may be able to return to sports and remain active for many years after hip arthroscopy when the labrum is treated and the joint capsule is tightened. Long-term participation may depend on lifestyle and personal interests as well as hip symptoms.
Read the research on PubMed Central.

Researchers at the American Hip Institute described a minimally invasive, endoscopic surgical technique for treating external snapping hip syndrome, which occurs when tissues on the outside of the hip snap over the bone during movement. The procedure lengthens the iliotibial band and part of the gluteus maximus tendon to reduce tightness and help prevent repeated snapping.
What this means for patients: For patients whose painful hip snapping persists despite nonsurgical treatments, this technique offers a potential surgical option through small incisions. However, this article describes the surgical technique rather than reporting patient outcome data, so its effectiveness cannot be determined from this study alone.
Read the research on PubMed Central.