We are happy to share some new research published earlier this year in the Journal of Hip Preservation Surgery: “Arthroscopic hip surgery offers better early patient-reported outcome measures than targeted physiotherapy programs for the treatment of femoroacetabular impingement syndrome: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials,” by Professor John O’Donnell, Orthopaedic Surgeon at St Vincent’s Private Hospital Melbourne.

Having been one of Australia’s first surgeons to perform arthroscopic hip surgery and anterior approach hip replacement, Professor O’Donnell is considered a pioneer in these fields.

Professor O’Donnell’s latest paper compared the difference in patient outcomes between Targeted Physiotherapy Programs (TPP) and surgery – either in the form of open surgical hip dislocation or Hip Arthroscopy (HA) - in the treatment of Femoroacetabular Impingement Syndrome (FIS), a condition generally associated with groin pain, a decline in sports and everyday efficiency and limited or painful hip flexion.

Analysing data from four separate trials, comprising of 749 patients overall, the review deemed HA as the superior approach over TPP for FIS management and treatment, with significantly better clinical and patient reported outcomes for HA at both the 8 month and 12 month follow-up

Specialising in minimally-invasive techniques, so as to help reduce pain and recovery time and deliver the best possible outcomes, Professor O’Donnell's research can be read in full here.