Orthopaedic researchers at Wake Forest University School of Medicine have received a $1.4 million grant from the Department of Defense. With the funding support, researchers will launch a two-year study aimed at understanding and addressing health care disparities in the treatment of musculoskeletal hip pain — specifically femoroacetabular impingement (FAI) syndrome — among female military service members.
Musculoskeletal injuries are the leading cause of lost duty time in the U.S. military, impacting operational readiness and deployment capabilities. Hip disorders, including FAI syndrome, are among the most prevalent and impactful conditions within the Department of Defense, with over 24,000 service members undergoing hip surgery annually. Notably, female service members are four times more likely to undergo surgery for FAI syndrome compared to their male counterparts. These disparities have profound implications for the long-term health, quality of life and careers of service members.
“Musculoskeletal hip pain is not just a medical issue. It’s a readiness issue,” said Garrett Bullock, Ph.D., assistant professor of orthopaedic surgery and rehabilitation and the project’s principal investigator. “Our research will help the Department of Defense better understand why female service members experience higher surgical rates and poorer outcomes, and it will provide actionable insights to improve care pathways and operational readiness for all service members.”
The project will be conducted across two major military health systems, recruiting 340 participants (half of whom are female) scheduled for surgical management of FAI syndrome. Using a sequential mixed methods design, the study will combine quantitative analysis of treatment patterns and outcomes with qualitative interviews to capture the lived experiences of service members. The research will prospectively follow participants for up to two years, evaluating non-surgical care, surgical predictors of return to duty and disparities in person-centered care.
While the focus is on military service members, the findings will have broad implications for civilian health care, according to Bullock. FAI syndrome affects athletes and active individuals in the general population, and understanding sex-based differences in treatment and outcomes can inform best practices for orthopedic care nationwide.
“What we learn from military populations can directly inform how we treat hip pain in physically active civilians,” Bullock said.