Good clinical outcomes, a high level of patient satisfaction and an acceptable re-operation rate are observed 7–10 years after augmented hip abductor tendon repair

PURPOSE: To investigate the clinical outcome, level of patient satisfaction, re-injury and re-operation rates of patients 7–10 years after augmented hip abductor tendon repair. METHODS: Between October 2012 and May 2015, 146 patients were referred to the senior author with symptomatic hip abductor tendon tears, of which 110 (101 female, 92%) were included in the current study and underwent hip abductor tendon repair augmented with LARS. Patients had a mean age of 63.2 years (range 43–82), body mass index of 27.8 (range 20.0–40.2) and duration of symptoms of 3.6 years (range 6 months–18 years). Patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) were evaluated pre-operatively and at 3, 6, 12 and 24 months, as well as 7–10 years post-operatively, including the Oxford Hip Score (OHS), 12-item Short Form Health Survey (SF-12), a Visual Analogue Pain Scale (VAS) evaluating the frequency (VAS-F) and severity (VAS-S) of hip pain, and patient satisfaction. Adverse events, surgical failures, revisions and subsequent treatments on the ipsilateral hip were reported. RESULTS: A significant improvement (p < 0.05) was observed for all PROMs and, while a mean deterioration was observed for all PROMs from 24 months to final review (7–10 years), these were not significant (n.s.). In the 90 patients retained and assessed at final review, 93% were satisfied with their hip pain relief and 89% with their ability to participate in recreational activities. Overall, 9 (of 110, 8.2%) surgical failures were observed over the 7–10-year follow-up period. CONCLUSIONS: Good clinical scores, a high level of patient satisfaction and an acceptable re-injury rate were observed at 7–10 years after augmented hip abductor tendon repair, demonstrating satisfactory repair longevity. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: IV.