Rehabilitation for Persons with Acetabular Dysplasia Undergoing Periacetabular Osteotomy: A Scoping Review

Objective(s): Acetabular dysplasia (AD) is characterized by incomplete acetabulum development often leading to pain and decreased hip-related function and quality-of-life. Periacetabular osteotomy (PAO) is a hip preservation surgical treatment option for those with AD that aims to reposition the acetabulum to increase bony coverage of the femoral head in order to improve hip pain and function. Not all persons with AD are candidates for PAO, and less research has examined the impact of rehabilitation interventions on clinical outcomes. We synthesized and summarized the current evidence regarding rehabilitation interventions for persons with AD with and without PAO.

Data Sources: We searched in PubMed, SPORTDiscus, CINAHL, Embase, and Scopus databases for relevant studies using predefined search terms.

Study Selection: Two independent authors reviewed titles/abstracts and full texts for inclusion. We included studies that enrolled persons with AD and reported rehabilitation interventions either before PAO or both before and after PAO. We excluded studies not in English, review articles, or conference proceedings.

Data Extraction: We summarized study characteristics and findings, including the study design, sample size, demographics, and rehabilitation protocols before and/or after PAO. Lastly, descriptive consolidation and qualitative synthesis were performed for the included studies.

Data Synthesis: Out of 696 potential studies, only 5 studies were included (1 protocol/guideline, 1 feasibility study, and 3 prospective studies). All included studies reported rehabilitation protocols used before and/or after PAO; however, only one study tested the impact of rehabilitation interventions on outcomes over a 6-month period. In this study (n=36), persons with AD reported significant improvements in pain, symptoms, and hip function 6 months after rehabilitation. Rehabilitation protocols included patient education (e.g., advice on pain management and activity) and exercise including range of motion, balance, and muscle strength interventions.

Conclusions: Few studies have reported or examined the impact of rehabilitation interventions in persons with AD without or after PAO. Future studies should develop and evaluate the efficacy of targeted rehabilitation interventions as a potential non-surgical intervention for those with AD.

Author(s) Disclosures: Authors declare no conflict of interest.