Hip Abductor Tendon Repair Versus Sham Surgery

"If the patient is allocated to surgical reconstruction, the incision from the sham surgery is continued into the iliotibial band (ITB) and down to the hip abductor tendon complex/greater trochanter. A standardized reconstruction of the HAT with bone anchors is then performed.~This standardized procedure has been used by the surgeons for the last 6 years. The ITB is then closed with looped suture, the subcutaneous tissue sutured with standard resorbable single sutures, the skin stapled and a standard wound dressing is applied."

If the patient is allocated to sham surgery, the incision will only include the skin and subcutaneous tissue. Subsequently, the subcutaneous tissue will be sutured with standard resorbable single sutures, the skin stapled and a standard wound dressing applied. The patient will be kept in general anesthesia for 10 minutes after the procedure is finalized to mimic a true intervention (to hinder staff or relatives to comment on the duration of the procedure). The normal standard procedure takes approximately 40 minutes.