Blood Flow Restriction Following Hip Arthroscopy

NCT ID: NCT04113759

Last Updated: 2025-12-05

Basic Information

• Recruitment Status: RECRUITING
• Clinical Phase: NA
• Total Enrollment: 56 participants
• Study Classification: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Start Date: 2023-08-01
• Study Completion Date: 2028-01-31

Brief Summary

This study will be a prospective randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled trial of patients undergoing primary hip arthroscopy for FAIS and/or labral pathology. All patients who sign the consent form will be enrolled in the study and randomized to one of the two treatment arms. Follow-up will take place at 1-month, 3-months, 6-months, and 1-year.

Detailed Description

The investigators propose using standardized strength testing, serial quadriceps measurements, and MRI to assess the efficacy of BFR training in increasing muscle hypertrophy following hip arthroscopy. Investigators will perform a randomized double-blinded placebo-controlled controlled trial of patients undergoing primary hip arthroscopy. Quadriceps strength will be measured with dynamometers at 3, 6, and 12 month time points, with Biodex strength testing at 6 and 12 months, postoperatively. Additionally, standardized circumferential leg measurements to assess quadriceps hypertrophy will be performed at 1, 3, 6 and 12-month time points. Patients will also undergo a hip MRI at 6 months postoperatively to quantify muscle size and appearance about the hip joint. Patient reported outcomes including standard outcomes measures at 3, 6, and 12 months and return to work/sport data will also be collected at standard time points. Patients will also be followed longitudinally for rates of reinjury, return to work, and return to sport.

This study will evaluate the efficacy of BFR therapy in the postoperative period of primary hip arthroscopy to improve muscle hypertrophy during the short-term rehabilitation period. This will be directly measured by strength testing with dynamometers and Biodex testing. Other metrics will include standard validated patient reported outcomes at 3, 6 and 12 month time points including hip disability and osteoarthritis outcome score (HOOS), Harris Hip score (HHS), visual analog scale (VAS) for pain, international hip outcome tool (iHOT-12), and Hip outcome score (HOS), and return to sport questionnaires. Standardized serial circumferential thigh measurements will also be recorded at each visit, in additional to a one time MRI at 6 months postoperatively.

Conditions

Labral Tear, Glenoid; Femoral Acetabular Impingement

Study Design

• Allocation Method: RANDOMIZED
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Primary Study Purpose: TREATMENT
• Blinding Strategy: DOUBLE

Study Groups

Control Group

The control group will receive sham BFR, in which a non-occlusive pressure is applied with the cuff. The exercises performed will be identical to the BFR group.

Group Type: PLACEBO_COMPARATOR

Sham BFR Rehabilitative Therapy

Intervention Type: BEHAVIORAL

The schedule, type of exercises, repetition ranges, and other physical therapy interventions will be the same as the BFR experimental group - however a non-occlusive pressure will be applied with the cuff in the control group.

BFR Postoperative Rehabilitation

The experimental group will receive BFR postoperative rehabilitation, which will involve performing a series of blood flow restriction exercises identical to the control group.

Group Type: EXPERIMENTAL

Blood Flow Restriction Rehabilitative Therapy

Intervention Type: BEHAVIORAL

BFR cuffs placed at the proximal thigh, just inferior to the greater trochanter.

Inflation time not to exceed 20 minutes. One BFR session per treatment. BFR exercise dosage: 4 sets of the following repetitions 30, 15, 15, 15, 30 second rest between sets, 1 min rest between exercises.

Progress exercise if pain <2/10 on VAS and RPE <5 on 0-10 scale. (Heerey et al), and no break down in form.

Interventions

Blood Flow Restriction Rehabilitative Therapy

BFR cuffs placed at the proximal thigh, just inferior to the greater trochanter.

Inflation time not to exceed 20 minutes. One BFR session per treatment. BFR exercise dosage: 4 sets of the following repetitions 30, 15, 15, 15, 30 second rest between sets, 1 min rest between exercises.

Progress exercise if pain <2/10 on VAS and RPE <5 on 0-10 scale. (Heerey et al), and no break down in form.

Intervention Type: BEHAVIORAL

Sham BFR Rehabilitative Therapy

The schedule, type of exercises, repetition ranges, and other physical therapy interventions will be the same as the BFR experimental group - however a non-occlusive pressure will be applied with the cuff in the control group.

Intervention Type: BEHAVIORAL

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria

• Adult patients 18-40
• English-speaking
• Clinical and radiographic examination (MRI) consistent FAIS and/or labral pathology, and are schedule for primary hip arthroscopy
• Written and informed consent for study participation

Exclusion Criteria

• Patients younger than 18 or older than 40 years of age
• Non-native English speaker
• Revision surgery or prior history of ipsilateral hip or knee surgery
• Inability to comply with the proposed follow-up clinic visits
• Patients lacking decisional capacity
• Patients with a history of deep vein thrombosis, pulmonary embolism, or known clotting disorder or hypercoagulable state
• Pregnant or breast-feeding women. Pregnancy as determined by a positive pregnancy test prior to procedure. Females of childbearing potential must agree to use an acceptable birth control method during study participation.
• Worker's compensation patients
• Any clinically significant finding that would place the patient at health risk, impact the study, or affect the completion of the study
• Any psychiatric illness that would prevent comprehension of the details and nature of the study and interfere with follow-up clinic visits

• Minimum Eligible Age: 18 Years
• Maximum Eligible Age: 40 Years
• Eligible Sex: ALL
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

Sponsors

Rush University Medical Center

OTHER

Sponsor Role: lead

Responsible Party

Responsibility Role: SPONSOR

Principal Investigators

Jorge Chahla, MD PhD

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Rush University Medical Center

Locations

Rush University Medical Center

Chicago, Illinois, United States

Site Status: RECRUITING

Countries

United States

Central Contacts

Carla M. Edwards, PhD

Role: CONTACT

carla_edwards@rush.edu

312-563-5735

Facility Contacts

Carla M Edwards, PhD

Role: primary

carla_edwards@rush.edu

312-563-5735

Other Identifiers

19093005

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id