Diabetes Mellitus Is Associated With Increased Risk for Subsequent Hip Arthroscopy After Index Hip Arthroscopy.

PURPOSE: To determine whether diabetes mellitus is associated with higher systemic and hip-specific complications and to evaluate reoperation rates after hip arthroscopy.

METHODS

Using the TriNetX Research Network and Current Procedural Terminology and International Classification of Diseases codes, we identified diabetic and nondiabetic patients aged 12 to 65 years who underwent hip arthroscopy between 2005 and 2025. Ninety-day systemic complications and 6-month, 1-year, and 3-year hip-specific outcomes were evaluated. Propensity score matching (1:1) was performed on 35 demographic and comorbidity variables. Risk analyses, Kaplan-Meier curves, and Cox proportional hazards models compared outcomes, with significance set at α = 0.05.

RESULTS

After matching, 1784 diabetic and 1784 nondiabetic patients were included. At 90 days, diabetes was associated with a higher hospital admission rate (odds ratio [OR] 1.83, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.16-2.87, P = .01). Diabetic patients had higher rates of subsequent hip arthroscopy at 1 year (OR 1.42, 95% CI 1.12-1.79, P = .004) and 3 years (OR 1.39, 95% CI 1.14-1.69, P = .001). Rates of arthroscopic irrigation and debridement were higher in patients with diabetes at 6 months (OR 1.81, 95% CI 1.09-3.00, P = .019), 1 year (OR 1.96, 95% CI 1.32-2.92, P = .001), and 3 years (OR 1.75, 95% CI 1.29-2.37, P < .001). Infection diagnoses were also higher among diabetic patients at 6 months (OR 1.64, 95% CI 1.06-2.52, P = .033) and 3 years (OR 1.70, 95% CI 1.24-2.33, P = .008).

CONCLUSIONS

Diabetes was not associated with higher rates of most early systemic complications after hip arthroscopy, although hospital admissions were more common among patients with diabetes. Diabetes was associated with higher rates of subsequent hip arthroscopy procedures, arthroscopic irrigation and debridement, and infection diagnoses after index hip arthroscopy; however, these findings should be interpreted in the context of database limitations, including the inability to confirm laterality or ipsilateral revision status.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level III, retrospective cohort study.