[Translated article] Preoperative instillation of epinephrine and lidocaine can reduce surgical time in the endoscopic treatment of GTPS.

Abstract

Introduction: Greater trochanteric pain syndrome (GTPS) is a multifactorial clinical condition affecting the lateral area of the hip. Although conservative treatment shows good results, some patients may still require surgical bursectomy, which can be performed either openly or endoscopically. One of the main technical difficulties of the endoscopic procedure is intraoperative bleeding, which can hinder the medical team's vision and increase the operation time for endoscopic treatment of GTPS.

Hypothesis: An instillation of vasoconstrictors and local anaesthetics before endoscopy will cause less intraoperative bleeding, which will translate into shorter surgical time.

Materials and methods: A prospective cohort was retrospectively divided based on the use or absence of a preoperative instillation of physiological saline solution with epinephrine and lidocaine. Surgical time was measured in each procedure and compared between the two groups.

Results: One hundred thirty-nine hips from 139 patients were included in the analysis. One hundred two patients were included in the instillation group versus 37 in the control group. The surgical time was significantly shorter in the instillation group than in the control group, with an average (standard deviation) of 52.01 (14.71) and 72.30 (11.70)min, respectively (p<.001).

Conclusion: The instillation of a physiological saline solution with epinephrine and lidocaine prior to the surgical treatment of GTPS is effective in reducing surgical times, likely due to a reduction in intraoperative bleeding. Future research should focus on more direct outcomes such as intraoperative blood loss and between different instillation protocols.