Clinical Trial Radar

The modified Harris Hip Score

The primary outcome was the modified Harris Hip Score (mHHS), assessed at pre-intervention, and at 12 and 24 months post-randomization. It is a clinician-reported instrument designed to evaluate hip function, commonly used to assess functional recovery before and after conservative treatment or hip arthroscopy. The scale encompasses domains such as pain, function, joint range of motion, and deformity, providing a total score ranging from 0 to 100, with higher scores indicating better hip function (typically, 90-100 points represent excellent, 80-89 good, 70-79 fair, and \<70 poor). The instrument has been validated in a relevant population for this trial, with a minimum clinically important difference of 9 points and a patient-acceptable symptom state threshold of 78 points.

Pre-intervention, and at 12 and 24 months post-randomization

Visual Analogue Scale

The pain Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) score is a patient-reported instrument designed to quantify pain intensity. It uses a 100-mm line anchored by "no pain" and "worst imaginable pain," with a total score ranging from 0 to 100, where higher scores indicate more severe pain. This instrument has been validated in a relevant population for this trial.

Pre-intervention, and at 12 and 24 months post-randomization

International Hip Outcome Tool-12

The iHOT-12 (international Hip Outcome Tool-12) score is a patient-reported instrument designed to assess hip-related quality of life. Derived from the full iHOT-33 scale, this 12-item instrument covers domains such as symptoms, functional limitations, sports and recreational activities, and work-related concerns. It provides a total score ranging from 0 to 100, with higher scores indicating better hip function and quality of life.

Pre-intervention, and at 12 and 24 months post-randomization

General health: Short Form questionnaire-12 items

The 12-Item Short Form Survey (SF-12) is a validated and widely used health-related quality of life measure, commonly applied to assess hip conditions and treatment outcomes. The SF-12 generates the physical and mental component summary scores originally derived from the 36-Item Short Form Survey (SF-36) with considerable accuracy, while significantly reducing respondent burden. This 12-item scale comprises two dimensions: positive mental state and psychological distress symptoms. Scores from all items are summed to obtain a total score, with higher scores indicating more severe psychological distress.

Pre-intervention, and at 12 and 24 months post-randomization

Patient satisfaction

Patient satisfaction was measured using questions that our team had used in previous trials involving patients undergoing hip arthroscopy for BDDH. During follow-up, we assessed satisfaction in all participants by asking: "Overall, how satisfied are you with the treatment you received?" Responses were rated on a scale from 1 to 10, where 1 indicated dissatisfied and 10 indicated very satisfied.

12 and 24 months post-randomization

Clinical assessment

Clinical assessment performed at baseline and follow up visits consisted of range of passive hip movement, measured using a goniometer, and recording whether a participant experienced pain on each movement. Impingement tests determined whether a participant experienced pain on hip flexion, adduction, and internal rotation (FADIR) or flexion, abduction, and external rotation (FABER).

Pre-intervention, and at 12 and 24 months post-randomization

Adverse events

We recorded the number and type of adverse events up to 24 months. Any adverse events were recorded on the appropriate case report forms and returned to the clinical trial unit, where the chief investigator determined causality and expectedness. Serious adverse events deemed unexpected and related to the trial were reported to the Research Ethics Committee within 10 days.

post-randomization