Sex Does Not Impact Outcomes of Arthroscopic Treatment of Hip Labral Tears: A Systematic Review and Meta‐analysis

Purpose To conduct a systematic review and meta‐analysis to evaluate sex‐specific outcomes after arthroscopic treatments for hip labral tears. Methods A review of literature was conducted according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta‐Analyses guidelines. Risk of Bias in Non‐Randomized Studies‐Intervention tool was used for the risk‐of‐bias assessment. Eligible studies included patients who underwent arthroscopic hip labral repair or reconstruction, reported sex‐based outcomes, and were published between 2005 and 2024. Exclusion criteria included studies not written in English, cadaveric and animal studies, and studies that failed to stratify outcomes based on sex. The outcomes of interest were modified Harris Hip Score, Hip Outcome Score‐Sport Scale score, Visual Analog Scale for Pain score, revision rates, and return‐to‐sport (RTS) rates. Results There were no statically significant differences in Hip Outcome Score‐Sport Scale, modified Harris Hip Score, revision rates, and RTS rates. Men and women had similar RTS rates (odds ratio, 1.27 [95% confidence interval, 0.65; 2.48], P = .45, I 2 = 0%). Men had lower revision rates between 0% and 7.9% compared with female rates between 0% and 17%, but this difference was not significant (odds ratio, 0.44 [95% confidence interval, 0.23; 0.83], P = .19, I 2 = 38%). There was a statistically significant difference in Visual Analog Scale for Pain scores, with slightly higher scores in women; however, the standardized mean difference was small (mean difference, 0.08 [95% confidence interval, −0.24; 0.41], P = .05, I 2 = 67%). Conclusions The equality of outcomes between sexes and the low rates of revision, high rates of RTS, low pain scores, and high functional scores suggest that arthroscopic treatments are beneficial to both sexes. There was no significant difference in functional scores, revision rates, or RTS rates between men and women undergoing arthroscopic treatment for labral tears. The practical relevance of the statistically significant difference in Visual Analog Scale for Pain scores is negligible. Level of Evidence Level IV, systematic review and meta‐analysis of Level I to IV studies.