Introduction Guidelines for post-operative rehabilitation following periacetabular osteotomy (PAO) have been established. However, the perspectives of patients undergoing PAO within different healthcare systems have not been considered. The present study aims were to explore perceived challenges in everyday life and aspirations and expectations of post-operative rehabilitation from the perspectives of Danish and Australian patients with acetabular dysplasia undergoing PAO.

Material and Methods We used a phenomenological-hermeneutic approach with semi-structured interviews to investigate the perspectives of twenty-six participants (5 males), aged between 15 and 43 years, who underwent a PAO. A purposeful sampling approach on age and sex coupled with criterion was used. Inclusion criteria involved: above 15 years, radiologically verified acetabular dysplasia, PAO within the last seven weeks, and undergoing post-operative rehabilitation. The interviews were analysed with an inductive content analysis approach.

Results Analysis of interview transcripts revealed four major themes across country populations: Different expectations, Self-confidence, tailored rehabilitation, and aligning expectations. Within each theme, subthemes emerged, and patterns across countries were identified with minimal variations. Accordingly, the economic burden of self-financed surgery and rehabilitation was challenging for certain Australian participants.

Conclusion Our findings elucidate the diverse range of aspirations and expectations among patients undergoing PAO, and how these relate to perceived challenges. Notably, the findings underscore the importance of aligning the expectations between patients and clinicians when tailoring rehabilitation for each patient.