Brown 2022
Year: 2022
Title: Evaluation of Differences Between Non-Hispanic White and African American Patients With Sports Medicine-Related Hip Disabilities
Country: United States
Age: All Ages
Sex: All Sexes
Population: Black
Care Setting: Outpatient Ambulatory and Primary Care
Clinical Setting: General Diagnostic Imaging
Data Level: Multi-Institution
Data Type: EHR
Data Source: Local data
Conclusion: Disparities In All Minority Groups
Health OutComes Reported: Yes
Mitigation: No
Free Text Conclusion: A lower proportion of African American patients with hip disabilities had MRIs performed and were recommended surgery. African American patients were less likely to have cam deformities and labral tears.
Abstract: BACKGROUND: Racial disparities within the field of orthopaedics are well-documented in the spinal surgery, knee arthroplasty, and hip arthroplasty literature. Not much is known about racial differences in patients with sports medicine-related hip disabilities. PURPOSE: To investigate whether differences exist between African American and non-Hispanic White (White) patients evaluated for hip disabilities. STUDY DESIGN: Cross-sectional study; Level of evidence, 3. METHODS: We performed a multicenter retrospective cohort study of 905 patients who were evaluated over a 1-year period for hip-related orthopaedic concerns. Patient demographic data, disability characteristics, and hip radiographic findings were obtained from electronic medical records. We also obtained data on whether patients were offered physical therapy, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and/or surgery. Comparisons by race and insurance status were evaluated using univariate and multivariate analyses. RESULTS: African Americans comprised a significantly lower proportion of the patients evaluated for hip-related disabilities compared with Whites (6.5% vs 93.5%; P < .001). A significantly smaller proportion of African Americans with hip disabilities was recommended for surgery than White patients (35.6% vs 54.6%; P = .007). Cam deformities were more common in White vs African American patients (39.7% vs 23.7%; P =.021), as were labral tears (54.1% vs 35.6%; P = .009). Logistic regression demonstrated that neither race nor insurance status were significant determinants in surgery recommendations. Conversely, race was a determinant of whether an MRI was performed, as White patients were 2.74 times more likely to have this procedure. There were no differences with respect to obtaining an MRI between private and Medicaid insurance. CONCLUSION: Compared with White patients, there were differences in both the proportion of African Americans evaluated for hip-related disabilities and the proportion receiving a surgery recommendation. African Americans with sports medicine-related hip issues were also less likely to obtain an MRI. With regard to observed pathology, African American patients were less likely to have cam deformities and labral tears than White patients.