Paul Beaulé: PAO & Hip Arthroscopy

This week, I speak with Dr. Paul Beaulé, Professor and Chief of the Division of Orthopedic Surgery at the University of Ottawa, Canada. He has dedicated his career to understanding the hip and is a world-renowned author and hip preservation surgeon. In our conversation, we delve into a recent randomized controlled trial he led and published. It compared the outcomes of patients undergoing arthroscopy in conjunction with periacetabular osteotomy versus those who did not have arthroscopy. This groundbreaking study earned the 2024 Hip Society Otto Aufranc Award. We explore the complexities of conducting randomized controlled trials in orthopedic surgery, discuss the inherent variability in surgical procedures, and examine the nuances of interpreting MRI findings related to the acetabular labrum—a structure Dr. Beaulé has extensively researched. We talk about the variability inherent to any surgical procedure. We talk about the interpretation of MRI findings and the structure and function of the acetabular labrum, which he has described at length and worked diligently on for years. Most of the discussion centers on the study's findings, which show no significant difference in clinical outcomes between the group undergoing arthroscopy and those that didn’t when undergoing a PAO.  We also talk about alternatives, including hip replacement, as well as outcomes of hip replacement after having a  PAO, amongst other things.