One Bony Morphology, Two Pathologic Entities: Sex-Based Differences in Patients With Borderline Hip Dysplasia Undergoing Hip Arthroscopy
Authors
Saks BR, Fox JD, Owens JS, Maldonado DR, Jimenez AE, Ankem HK, Lall AC, Domb BG
Background
- Borderline hip dysplasia (BHD) has been associated with both male and female patients, but little research has explored sex-based differences in clinical characteristics and surgical outcomes.
Methods
- This study analyzed data from patients with BHD who underwent hip arthroscopy, comparing male and female patients in terms of clinical findings, surgical procedures, and post-surgical outcomes.
Key Findings
- Male patients had higher rates of complex labral tears, acetabular cartilage injury, and required more femoroplasty procedures.
- Female patients more commonly experienced painful internal snapping and underwent capsular plication for hip instability.
- Both sexes showed significant improvement in outcomes post-surgery.
Conclusions
- Although both male and female patients with BHD achieve positive outcomes from hip arthroscopy, their pathologies and required treatments differ significantly, suggesting that they may represent distinct clinical entities despite sharing similar bony morphology.
What Does This Mean for Patients
- If you have BHD, your sex could influence the type of treatment and recovery you may experience. Male patients might need more procedures to address cartilage damage, while female patients might deal with hip instability more frequently.