Surgeon willingness to participate in randomized controlled trials for the treatment of femoroacetabular impingement

Purpose To define surgeon willingness to participate in large, multicenter randomized controlled trials (RCTs) to address common treatment decisions for the management of femoroacetabular impingement (FAI) and to define the feasibility of executing these RCTs. Methods Thirty case vignettes of consecutive, symptomatic FAI patients who underwent FAI corrective surgery by a single surgeon were provided to members of the Academic Network of Conservational Hip Outcomes Research (ANCHOR). Each surgeon (n = 10) completed a questionnaire in a blinded fashion to determine willingness to participate and enroll the patient in 6 different potential RCTs. The proportion of yes/no ratings were blindly assessed for all 6 RCTs. Differences were tested with χ²-tests, and odds ratios were calculated. Results Seventy-seven percent and 42% of surgeons were willing to enroll patients in a surgical versus nonoperative FAI RCT with 6-month and 12-month crossover arms, respectively. Only 25% and 53% of surgeons were willing to consider randomization of operative versus nonoperative treatment for femoral and acetabular sided osseous deformities, respectively. Regarding the capsulolabral complex, 63% and 78% were amenable to randomization of labral refixation versus debridement and capsular closure versus no closure, respectively. Statistically, surgeon ratings differed significantly (Pearson χ² = 246.302; P <.001). Conclusions Surgeons are willing to participate in surgical versus nonsurgical trials with a 6-month crossover endpoint, yet surgeons are reluctant to offer surgical treatment of FAI without correction of osseous deformity, particularly for cam-type pathomorphology. RCTs to address management of the capsulolabral structures may be more feasible and generalizable based on the willingness of hip preservation surgeons to enroll patients. Clinical Relevance The feasibility of completing RCTs for the management of FAI is limited even among high-volume hip preservation surgeons; however, surgeons are willing to participate.