Current concepts in the diagnosis and management of femoroacetabular impingement

Comparison of 3T MR arthrography and 3T MRI in intra-articular hip pathology: a cost-analysis

BACKGROUND

MR arthrography (MRA) has previously been the radiological gold standard for investigating labral and chondral lesions of the hip joint. In recent years, 3T MRI has demonstrated comparable accuracy, being adopted as the first-line imaging investigation in many institutions.

AIMS

We compare the associated increased cost and radiation dose of the fluoroscopic component of the MRA compared to MRI.

METHODS

In this retrospective review over 2 years, 120 patients (mean age 27.3 years ± 13.2, range 8-67) underwent 3T MRA or non-contrast 3T MRI. Three musculoskeletal radiologists reported the data independently. Primary objectives included cost-comparison between each and radiation dose of the fluoroscopic component of the MRA. Secondary objectives included comparing detection of pathology involving the acetabular labrum, femoral cartilage, and acetabular cartilage.

RESULTS

Then, 58 (48%) underwent 3T MRA and 62 (52%) patients underwent 3T MRI. The added cost of the fluoroscopic injection prior to MRA was €116.31/patient, equating to €7211.22 savings/year. MRA was associated with a small radiation dose of 0.003 mSv.

CONCLUSIONS

Transitioning from 3T MRA to 3T MRI in the investigation of intra-articular hip pathology increases cost savings and reduces radiation dose.

Effects of Preexisting Anxiety and Depression on Postoperative Outcomes in Patients Aged 30 Years and Younger Following Hip Arthroscopy for Femoroacetabular Impingement Syndrome

Background: Mental health influences postoperative outcomes in orthopedic procedures. Increasing attention is being paid to this effect. Purpose: We sought to evaluate the effect of diagnosed depression, anxiety, or both on postoperative outcomes in patients who have undergone hip arthroscopy for femoroacetabular impingement syndrome (FAIS). Methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort study of 289 patients aged 30 years or younger who underwent hip arthroscopy for FAIS at a single institution from January 2014 to June 2021. Univariate statistics were used to assess differences between patients diagnosed with depression, anxiety, or both, and those without these diagnoses. Differences included demographics, operative characteristics, and postoperative outcomes: duration of postanesthesia care unit (PACU) stay, PACU pain scores, complications, reoperations, postoperative injections, 90-day emergency department (ED) visits, and patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs). Multivariate analysis was used to evaluate risk factors for postoperative complications, including wound infection, documented reinjury, postoperative intra-articular hip injection, and any reoperation. Results: Patients diagnosed with depression, anxiety, or both were more likely to be older, female, and have a higher comorbidity burden. At the time of surgery, they were more likely to undergo concomitant procedures, including bursectomy and iliotibial band release. Postoperatively, they had longer PACU stays (90.5 vs 75.1 minutes) and higher first PACU pain scores (5.9 vs 4.6), as well as higher rates of postoperative injection (18.1 vs 9.2%), any reoperation (13.9% vs 4.6%), and revision hip arthroscopy (11.1% vs. 3.7%). Diagnoses of depression, anxiety, or both were independently predictive of any reoperation (odds ratio [OR] = 2.841) and revision hip arthroscopy (OR = 3.401). Conclusion: This retrospective cohort study found that, in patients undergoing hip arthroscopy for FAIS, there was an association between a diagnosis of depression, anxiety, or both, and increased comorbidities, higher first PACU pain scores, longer PACU stays, and increased rates of postoperative injection, any reoperation, or revision hip arthroscopy. Targeted interventions may improve outcomes, but further study is warranted.

Injections prior to hip arthroscopy are associated with increased risk of repeat hip arthroscopy at 1 and 5 years

INTRODUCTION

Previous studies have shown that intra-articular hip injections prior to hip arthroscopy (HA) can be a helpful diagnostic tool. However, local anesthetic and corticosteroid injections can be chondrotoxic and corticosteroid injections have been shown to increase the risk of infection during subsequent surgical intervention. The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether preoperative injections adversely affect outcomes of HA using a national database.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The TriNetX database was retrospectively queried. Patients undergoing HA for femoroacetabular impingement with at least 1 year of claims runout were included in the analysis. Patients were grouped by whether they had a hip injection within 1 year prior to HA. The rates of repeat HA, total hip arthroplasty (THA), infection, osteonecrosis, and new onset hip OA at 1- and 5-years postoperatively were compared between groups. Statistical significance was assessed at α = 0.05.

RESULTS

6511 HA patients with previous injection and 1178 HA patients without previous injection were included. Patients with a previous injection were overall younger (32.3 vs. 34.7 years, p < 0.001), more likely to be female (69 vs. 48%, p < 0.001) and had a higher BMI (26.3 vs. 25.7 kg/m2, p = 0.043). At 1 and 5-years postoperatively, patients with any injection were 1.43 (p < 0.001) and 1.89 (p < 0.001) times more likely to undergo repeat HA, respectively. At 1 and 5-years postoperatively, patients who underwent a corticosteroid injection were 2.29 (p < 0.001) and 1.89 (p < 0.001) times more likely to undergo repeat HA than patients with local anesthetic injection only and 1.56 (p < 0.001) and 2.08 (p < 0.001) times more likely to undergo repeat HA than patients with no injection.

CONCLUSIONS

Intraarticular hip injections prior to hip arthroscopy, particularly corticosteroid injections, are associated with increased risk of repeat hip arthroscopy at 1 and 5 years. Additional studies are needed to elucidate this risk.

Elimination of a Postoperative Brace Does Not Increase Complications Following Hip Arthroscopy

Background The practice of routine postoperative bracing to limit abduction and internal rotation, along with weight-bearing restrictions after hip arthroscopy (HA), varies significantly among surgeons. It is unclear whether the use of a postoperative brace improves short-term outcomes in patients undergoing HA. The purpose of this study was to determine the differences in patient outcomes before and after eliminating routine usage of a postoperative brace. Methods A retrospective review was conducted of 176 adult patients undergoing HA by a single, high-volume surgeon. The no-brace protocol was implemented in October 2020. The patients were divided into two groups: pre-implementation (January-October 2020) and post-implementation (October 2020-April 2021). Twenty-three patients that used a brace during the post-implementation period were excluded. All patients had weight-bearing restrictions with crutches for three weeks postoperatively. The primary endpoint was any complication in the first six weeks postoperatively. Results There were no significant differences in demographics between groups, although the body mass index in the brace group was higher (28.1 vs. 26.4 kg/m², p = 0.066) and the rate of additional procedures performed was higher in the brace group (55.2% vs. 40.1%, p = 0.056). There was no significant difference in postoperative outcomes between groups when looking at 90-day emergency department visits (1.7% vs. 0%, p = 0.548), complications at two (1.7% vs. 1.7%, p = 1.000) and six weeks (0% vs. 1.7%, p = 0.341) postoperatively, all complications in the first six weeks (1.7% vs. 1.7%, p = 1.000), and continued pain at six weeks (10.3% vs. 16.7%, p = 0.238). Conclusion The brace and no-brace groups were similar demographically. Patients undergoing HA with no brace and crutches experienced no significant differences in pain or complications in comparison to those receiving a traditional bracing protocol. Routine use of a postoperative brace may not be necessary in this population.

Hip arthroscopy for femoroacetabular impingement is associated with significant improvement in early patient reported outcomes: analysis of 4963 cases from the UK non-arthroplasty registry (NAHR) dataset

PURPOSE

Results from recent randomised controlled trials demonstrate the superiority of surgery over physiotherapy in patients with femoroacetabular impingement (FAI) of the hip in early follow-up. However, there is paucity of evidence regarding which factors influence outcomes of FAI surgery, particularly notable is the lack of information on the effect of impingement subtype (cam or pincer or mixed) on patient reported outcomes measures (PROMs). This study aims to evaluate the early outcomes of hip arthroscopy for FAI, and their determinants.

METHODS

This is a retrospective analysis of prospectively collected data from the UK Non-Arthroplasty Hip Registry (NAHR) of patients undergoing arthroscopic intervention for FAI between 2012 and 2019. The null hypothesis was that there is no difference in PROMs, based on morphological subtype of FAI treated or patient characteristics, at each follow-up timepoint. The outcome measures used for the study were the iHOT-12 score and the EQ5D Index and VAS 6- and 12-month follow-up.

RESULTS

A cohort of 4963 patients who underwent arthroscopic treatment of FAI were identified on the NAHR database. For all FAI pathology groups, there was significant improvement from pre-operative PROMs when compared to those at 6 and 12 months. Overall, two-thirds of patients achieved the minimum clinically important difference (MCID), and almost half achieved substantial clinical benefit (SCB) for iHOT-12 by 12 months. Pre-operatively, and at 12-month follow-up, iHOT-12 scores were significantly poorer in the pincer group compared to the cam and mixed pathology groups (p < 0.01). Multivariable analysis revealed PROMS improvement in the setting of a higher-grade cartilage lesion.

CONCLUSION

This registry study demonstrates that hip arthroscopy is an effective surgical treatment for patients with symptomatic FAI and results in a statistically significant improvement in PROMs which are maintained through 12 months follow-up.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

III.

No evidence exists on outcomes of non-operative management in patients with femoroacetabular impingement and concomitant Tönnis Grade 2 or more hip osteoarthritis: a scoping review

PURPOSE

The purpose of this scoping review was to assess the outcomes of all the non-operative modalities of management for femoroacetabular impingement (FAI) and concomitant osteoarthritis (OA) Tönnis Grade 2 or more.

METHODS

A systematic search of PubMed was performed from inception to December 1st 2021 for literature on outcomes of non-operative management strategies for young adults with symptomatic FAI using the PRISMA Extension for Scoping Reviews guidelines. Cohorts investigating FAI and concomitant hip OA Tönnis Grade 2 or more were considered eligible. Studies not written in English or German, below level 4 evidence, and reviews were excluded. A secondary analysis for FAI without OA stratification was conducted after the initial screening to allow identification of available non-operative interventions.

RESULTS

No study reported outcomes separately for non-operative management of FAI with Tönnis Grade 2 OA or more and as such, did not fulfil the inclusion criteria. A secondary analysis included 24 studies that reported on outcomes for non-operative interventions for FAI irrespective of the degree of degeneration. Three studies investigated the efficacy of hyaluronic acid injection, 5 reports investigated corticosteroid injections, 2 studies evaluated the outcomes of hip bracing and 16 studies included a physiotherapy programme. Associations between the aforementioned interventions were analysed. There is level I evidence supporting the efficacy of activity modification and hip-specific physiotherapy for FAI and mild OA. Core-strengthening exercises are prevalent amongst successful regimens in the literature. Contradictory evidence questions the efficacy of hip bracing even for short-term outcomes. Corticosteroid injections have mostly failed in intention-to treat analyses but may be valuable in delaying the need for surgery; further studies are warranted. Reports on outcomes following hyaluronic acid injections are contradictory.

CONCLUSION

No evidence exists on outcomes following non-operative management of FAI with concomitant Tönnis Grade 2 or more OA of the hip. Further studies are required and should explore the non-operative interventions that were employed for FAI and milder OA. There is strong evidence for a hip-specific physiotherapy program including activity modification and core strengthening exercises. Adjunct interventions such as corticosteroid injections and NSAID consumption may be valuable in delaying the need for surgery.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Level IV.

Diagnostic Accuracy of Clinical Tests and Imaging Exams for Femoroacetabular Impingement: An Umbrella Review of Systematic Reviews

OBJECTIVE

To synthesize available evidence about diagnostic accuracy of clinical tests and imaging examinations for femoroacetabular impingement (FAI) syndrome.

DESIGN

Umbrella review.

SETTING

N/A.

PARTICIPANTS

N/A.

INTERVENTIONS

N/A.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Systematic reviews (SR) indexed in Embase, LIVIVO, PubMed, SCOPUS, the Cochrane Library, and Web of Science were searched in a 2-phase process. SR assessing diagnostic accuracy were considered eligible.

RESULTS

From 1520 studies, 6 SR were included, which evaluated 24 primary studies related to FAI syndrome. Of these, 5 SR assessed clinical tests, and a substantial heterogeneity was found concerning reference standards adopted across primary studies, which included arthroscopy, clinical examination (associated or not with imaging exams), intra-articular injections, and open surgery. Most clinical tests presented higher values of sensitivity compared with specificity, although evidence was considered limited because the same primary studies were often included across SR. Nonetheless, evidence around the flexion adduction internal rotation (FADIR) test was considered stronger and its use as a screening tool was consistently supported. Only one SR assessed the accuracy of imaging examinations, which adopted open surgery as the sole reference standard. Most imaging exams presented considerably high values of sensitivity, although specificity values were notably lower.

CONCLUSIONS

No robust recommendations can be provided for most clinical tests, although the FADIR test, in particular, was consistently supported as a screening tool. Moreover, although imaging examinations showed considerably high sensitivity values, evidence was considered sparse and further research is strongly recommended to validate its use as reference standards for diagnostic accuracy data.

Inconclusive and Contradictory Evidence for Outcomes After Hip Arthroscopy in Patients With Femoroacetabular Impingement and Osteoarthritis of Tönnis Grade 2 or Greater: A Systematic Review

PURPOSE

To investigate whether hip arthroscopy (HA) is effective in patients with femoroacetabular impingement and concomitant hip osteoarthritis (OA) of Tönnis grade 2 or greater.

METHODS

This review was registered in the International Prospective Register for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analysis (PROSPERO, CRD42020210936). It followed the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses) guidelines and included multiple databases: MEDLINE, Embase, Web of Science Core Collection, and Cochrane Library. All studies in English or German from database inception to December 1, 2020, that investigated outcomes of HA in patients with OA of Tönnis grade 2 or greater were considered eligible. The risk of bias was assessed using the MINORS (Methodological Index for Non-randomized Studies) tool. Data heterogeneity was explored using the I² test in a random-effects model.

RESULTS

Eleven studies met the eligibility criteria. The MINORS (Methodological Index for Non-randomized Studies) score averaged 68% (range, 46%-81%). A total of 616 hips, consisting of 247 hips of interest (Tönnis grade 2 or greater) and 369 controls, were included. The weighted estimated follow-up averaged 29.1 months (range, 12-84 months). Data on patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) could be extracted for 6 of 11 studies, and date on conversion to total hip arthroplasty were available for 8 of 11. Four studies reported an overall improvement in PROMs after HA, and 2 highlighted a failure of improvement in PROMs. Failure of HA with conversion to total hip arthroplasty was observed at a rate of 0% to 9% in 4 studies, as opposed to proportions as high as 35% to 70% in the other 4 studies. There was a high level of heterogeneity, with a calculated I² value of 89%.

CONCLUSIONS

There is currently contradictory and insufficient evidence regarding the efficacy of HA for hips with femoroacetabular impingement and concomitant OA of Tönnis grade 2 or greater. This is in the context of data with low levels of evidence, mainly consisting of retrospective case series (Level IV) with a high risk of bias and high heterogeneity (I² of approximately 90%).

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Level IV, systematic review of Level III and IV studies.

Patterns of labral tears and cartilage injury are different in femoroacetabular impingement and dysplasia

The aim of this study was to assess injury patterns and risk factors of the acetabular labrum and associated cartilage in patients with femoroacetabular impingement (FAI) versus dysplasia. We retrospectively reviewed 137 patients diagnosed with labral tears and FAI or dysplasia (74 or 63 cases, respectively) through an arthroscopic procedure. Labral and concomitant cartilage injuries were evaluated. Demographics and radiological variables [lateral center-edge angle (LCEA), anterior center-edge angle, acetabular index (AI), acetabular version and alpha angle] were evaluated as risk factors for labral and cartilage injuries. Detachment of acetabular cartilage with intact labro-cartilaginous junction was the most common in dysplasia, whereas cartilage delamination from the labro-cartilaginous junction was more common in FAI (P < 0.001). A higher body mass index was significantly associated with delamination injury in FAI (odds ratio 1.226; 95% CI 1.043–1.441; P = 0.013). A significant correlation was evident between detachment injury and a larger AI in dysplasia (odds ratio 1.127; 95% CI 1.000–1.270; P = 0.049). In addition, symptom duration was positively correlated with the extent of labral tearing in FAI (P = 0.013), whereas the smaller LCEA was correlated with the larger extent of labral tearing in dysplasia (P = 0.044). FAI and dysplasia patients exhibited different labral and cartilage injury patterns. Increased body mass index was correlated with delamination injury in FAI, whereas an increased AI was associated with detachment injury in dysplasia. Greater tearing was associated with a longer symptom duration in FAI, and a decreased LCEA was a risk factor for the extent of tearing in dysplasia.

Level of evidence

Level III. Case–control study.

Controversial Issues in Arthroscopic Surgery for Femoroacetabular Impingement

Femoroacetabular impingement (FAI) is a common cause of painful hip in the young and middle-aged population. This condition frequently leads to a labral tear, damage of acetabular cartilage, and secondary arthritis of the hip. When nonsurgical managements are not effective, surgical procedures (open surgery and hip arthroscopy) are indicated. Due to its less invasiveness, hip arthroscopy has replaced open surgery during the last two decades. The effectiveness of arthroscopic surgery in pain relief for FAI syndrome has been well established. The procedure is also expected to slow or prevent further progression to hip arthritis. In this review, we provide the updated knowledge of arthroscopic procedures for the management of FAI syndrome.

Preoperative Intra-articular Steroid Injections as Predictors of Hip Arthroscopy: 2-Year Outcomes

BACKGROUND

In patients with femoroacetabular impingement, preoperative diagnostic injections are commonly used to establish a diagnosis of intra-articular pathology. In some cases, intra-articular steroid injections are also used for therapeutic purposes.

PURPOSE/HYPOTHESIS

The purpose of this study was to determine if a positive response to intra-articular steroid injection was predictive of superior outcomes after hip arthroscopy to determine if the response to intra-articular steroid injection was predictive of outcomes after hip arthroscopy. It was hypothesized that a positive response to a preoperative hip injection would be predictive of improved short- to midterm outcomes after hip arthroscopy.

STUDY DESIGN

Cohort study; Level of evidence, 3.

METHODS

This was a retrospective study of 208 patients who elected to have ultrasound-guided intra-articular steroid injection before they underwent hip arthroscopy between January 2016 and December 2016. Patients were divided into 2 groups: those who showed improvement in pain after the injection (steroid responder group) and those who showed no response (nonresponder group). The authors compared the preoperative and 2-year postoperative patient-reported outcomes (modified Harris Hip Score [mHHS] and Hip Outcome Score-Activities of Daily Living [HOS-ADL]) and radiographic findings between groups. Clinical endpoints, including rates of revision and conversion to total hip arthroplasty, were also reviewed.

RESULTS

There were 88 patients in the nonresponder group and 120 patients in the responder group, with no significant between-group differences in preoperative descriptive variables. The responder group had significantly higher 2-year mHHS and HOS-ADL, pre- to postoperative change in mHHS and HOS-ADL, percentage of patients achieving the patient acceptable symptomatic state (PASS) on the mHHS, and percentage of patients reaching the minimum clinically important difference and the PASS on the HOS-ADL. There was no difference in Tönnis grade, acetabular labrum articular disruption grade, revision rate, or conversion to total hip arthroplasty between the 2 groups.

CONCLUSION

The response to preoperative intra-articular injection did aid in predicting 2-year patient-reported outcomes of hip arthroscopy for femoroacetabular impingement. Overall, the result of a preoperative intra-articular injection can be a helpful clinical tool for surgical decision-making and counseling patients on expected outcomes after hip arthroscopy.

Outcomes following surgical management of femoroacetabular impingement: a systematic review and meta-analysis of different surgical techniques

Outcomes following different types of surgical intervention for femoroacetabular impingement (FAI) are well reported individually but comparative data are deficient. The purpose of this study was to conduct a systematic review (SR) and meta-analysis to analyze the outcomes following surgical management of FAI by hip arthroscopy (HA), anterior mini open approach (AMO), and surgical hip dislocation (SHD). This SR was registered with PROSPERO. An electronic database search of PubMed, Medline, and EMBASE for English and German language articles over the last 20 years was carried out according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. We specifically analyzed and compared changes in patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs), α-angle, rate of complications, rate of revision, and conversion to total hip arthroplasty (THA). A total of 48 articles were included for final analysis with a total of 4,384 hips in 4,094 patients. All subgroups showed a significant correction in mean α angle postoperatively with a mean change of 28.8° (95% confidence interval (CI) 21 to 36.5; p < 0.01) after AMO, 21.1° (95% CI 15.1 to 27; p < 0.01) after SHD, and 20.5° (95% CI 16.1 to 24.8; p < 0.01) after HA. The AMO group showed a significantly higher increase in PROMs (3.7; 95% CI 3.2 to 4.2; p < 0.01) versus arthroscopy (2.5; 95% CI 2.3 to 2.8; p < 0.01) and SHD (2.4; 95% CI 1.5 to 3.3; p < 0.01). However, the rate of complications following AMO was significantly higher than HA and SHD. All three surgical approaches offered significant improvements in PROMs and radiological correction of cam deformities. All three groups showed similar rates of revision procedures but SHD had the highest rate of conversion to a THA. Revision rates were similar for all three revision procedures.

The role of iliocapsularis in hip pathology: a scoping review

The iliocapsularis is a relatively unheard-of muscle, located deep in the hip covering the anteromedial capsule of the hip joint. Little is known about this constant muscle despite its clinical relevance. The aims of this scoping review are to collate the various research studies reporting on the detailed anatomy and function of iliocapsularis and to demonstrate how inter-individual differences in iliocapsularis can be used as a clinical adjunct in guiding diagnosis and treatment of certain hip joint pathologies. A computer-assisted literature search was conducted based on Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines. Our review found 13 studies including 384 cases meeting our inclusion criteria. About 53.8% of the studies involved human cadavers. The current scoping review indicates the relevant anatomy of the iliocapsularis, being a small muscle which arises from the inferior border of the anterior inferior iliac spine and anteromedial capsule of the hip joint, inserting distal to the lesser trochanter. Therefore, based upon these anatomical attachments, iliocapsularis acts as a dynamic stabilizer by tightening the anterior capsule of the hip joint. Implications of this association may be that the muscle is hypertrophied in dysplastic or unstable hips. Determining the size of the iliocapsularis could be of conceivable use in patients with hip symptoms featuring signs of both borderline hip dysplasia and subtle cam-type deformities. Although future research is warranted, this study will aid physicians to understand the clinical importance of the iliocapsularis.

Outcomes After Arthroscopic Osteochondroplasty for Femoroacetabular Impingement Secondary to Slipped Capital Femoral Epiphysis: A Systematic Review

PURPOSE

To determine the efficacy of arthroscopic osteochondroplasty for patients with femoroacetabular impingement (FAI) secondary to slipped capital femoral epiphysis (SCFE).

METHODS

A systematic review was performed based on Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines using Embase, PubMed (Medline), and Cochrane Library up to November 1, 2019. Data including patient demographics, slip severity according to Southwick, outcomes, and complications were retrieved from eligible studies that reported a minimum 3-month follow-up of arthroscopic osteochondroplasty for FAI secondary to SCFE. Methodological Index for Non-Randomized Studies (MINORS) criteria was used to assess quality of studies. Heterogeneity and quality were evaluated using P values and the I² statistic.

RESULTS

Six studies (90 hips) were analyzed. The range of MINORS scores was 8 to 11. Most studies were level of evidence 4 (n = 4, 66.7%), with more men than women (n = 5, 83.3%). The ranges of age, body mass index, and follow-up length after surgery were 10 to 42 years, 17.5 to 32.3 kg/m², and 3 to 56 months, respectively. The Modified Harris Hip Score (mHHS) was the most commonly used score to report on clinical outcomes (n = 2 studies, 28 hips) with a significant improvement following surgery. Three studies reported an improvement in internal rotation (IR) of the hip with a range of improvement of 17° to 32°, with low heterogeneity (I² = 0% and P = .531). Five studies reported a significant correction of the α angle, with range of improvement of 19.9° to 37.3°. The range of postoperative α angle was 32° to 67°, and 3 studies achieved appropriate postoperative α angle (40° to 50°), with low heterogeneity (I² = 8.4% and P = .336). The total number of complications was 8 (1 major complication) and there were 6 revisions, with low heterogeneity.

CONCLUSION

Arthroscopic osteochondroplasty for FAI secondary to SCFE provides good short- to medium-term outcomes and improves IR of the hip, with the ability to potentially correct the α angle with a low rate of complications and revision.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

IV, systematic review of level II to IV studies.

Prior Femoroacetabular Osteoplasty Does Not Compromise the Clinical Outcome of Subsequent Total Hip Arthroplasty

BACKGROUND

Total hip arthroplasty (THA) is the most effective treatment option for patients with symptomatic osteoarthritis after a prior femoroacetabular osteoplasty (FAO). This study evaluated clinical outcomes of THA after a prior FAO and compared the results with a matched group of patients who underwent THA with no prior surgical procedures in the affected hip.

METHODS

By reviewing our prospectively maintained database, we identified 74 hips (69 patients) that underwent THA after previous FAO between 2004 and 2017. They were matched 1:3 to a control group of primary THA with no history of any procedures on the same hip based on age, sex, body mass index, date of surgery, Charlson comorbidity index, surgical approach, and acetabular and femoral component type. At minimum 2-year follow-up, modified Harris Hip Score, 90-day readmission, and revision THA for any reason were compared between the groups.

RESULTS

The median time interval between FAO and subsequent THA was 1.64 years. There was no significant difference in preoperative Harris Hip Score between patients in the case and control cohorts. At the latest follow-up, the median modified Harris Hip Score was 77.6 in the case group and 96.2 in the control, and the difference was not statistically significant. None of the patients in the case group developed infection. 7 patients in the case group required additional procedures at any point, compared with 15 in the control.

CONCLUSION

THA after prior FAO has similar outcomes to primary THA in patients with no prior procedures in the affected hip. THA can be performed safely with excellent outcome in patients with a history of FAO.

Increased range of motion but otherwise similar clinical outcome of arthroscopy over open osteoplasty for femoroacetabular impingement at midterm follow-up: A systematic review

BACKGROUND

A systematic review was conducted comparing patient reported outcomes measures (PROMs), functional scores, and the rate of complications between arthroscopic and open treatment for femoroacetabular impingement (FAI) at mid-term follow-up.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

This systematic review was performed according to the PRISMA guidelines. The literature search was performed in October 2020. All clinical trials treating FAI using open osteoplasty or arthroscopic surgery were considered for inclusion. Only articles reporting >12 months follow-up were included.

RESULTS

Data from 97 articles (9981 procedures) were collected. At a mean 19.2 months follow-up there was no difference between the two cohorts. At a mean follow-up of 38 months, the external rotation was increased in the arthroscopic group (P < 0.0001). The modified Harris Hip Score scored greater in favour of the open osteoplasty group (P = 0.04), as did the Hip Outcome Score - Activities of Daily Living subscale (P = 0.01). At a mean 45.1 months the arthroscopic group presented greater external rotation (P < 0.0001) and SF-12 Mental (P = 0.04). The modified Harris Hip Score was greater in favour of the open osteoplasty group (P = 0.03), as was the HOS-ADL (P = 0.01). Regarding complications, the arthroscopic group experienced lower rates of subsequent revisions (P < 0.0001).

CONCLUSION

Based on the significant reduction of revisions-rate and significant increase in range of motion, arthroscopy treatment for the management of FAI may be recommended.

Degenerative changes of the hip following in situ fixation for slipped capital femoral epiphysis: a minimum 18-year follow-up study

INTRODUCTION

In situ fixation (ISF) is currently still the 'gold standard' treatment for slipped capital femoral epiphysis (SCFE) and has shown acceptable results at mid-term follow-up. This study aims to evaluate functional, clinical and radiographic long-term outcomes after this procedure.

METHODS

We reviewed 64 SCFE patients (76 SCFE hips) treated with ISF between 1983 and 1998. 82.9% were stable hips and 17.1% unstable according to Loder's definition. Initial radiographs demonstrated a mild slip in 50%, moderate in 41.3% and severe in 8.7% based on the Southwick angle. Long-term outcomes were assessed using the modified Harris Hip Score (mHHS), University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA) and Tegner activity scores, visual analogue scale (VAS) pain, VAS function, flexion-adduction-internal rotation (FADIR) test, extent of internal-rotation at 90° of hip flexion and Tönnis classification for hip osteoarthritis (OA).

RESULTS

10 (15.6%) SCFE hips were converted to a total hip replacement (THR) after a mean of 16 years. 38 (59.4%) patients underwent a clinical and radiographic examination after a mean follow-up of 23 (range 18-33) years. 12 (18.8%) patients were lost to follow-up. 74% of SCFE hips demonstrated degenerative change on radiography or were converted to THR (Tönnis 1: 33.3%, 2: 18.5%, 3 or THR: 22.2%). There were 3 cases of avascular necrosis (AVN) all in unstable hips. Mean mHHS was 86.8/100, UCLA activity score 7.5/10, Tegner activity score 3.8/10, VAS pain 1.7/10 and VAS function 1.5/10. 20% of SCFE hips were found to have a positive FADIR-test and a limited internal-rotation of 19.7° versus 36.1° (p < 0.001) in contralateral normal hips.

DISCUSSION

This long-term follow-up study of ISF for SCFE shows that although complication rates in terms of AVN are low, a high number of patients become symptomatic and have a limited function. Degenerative changes are common with 22.2% of hips developing end-stage hip OA (Tönnis 3 or THR). It is important that patients and parents are informed about these risks.

Outcomes in arthroscopic surgery and proposal rehabilitative treatment in femoral acetabular impingement syndrome

Background and aim of the work Femural Acetabular impingement syndrome (FAIS) is a patologic condition that can lead to hip pain, functional limitation and stiffness. In the last few decades orthopedics and physiotherapists have improved both surgery and riabilitative treatment leading to a better and better treatment. The target of this paper il to verify the efficiency of an early and multimodal physiotherapic treatment after and arthroscopic surgery of the FAIS   Materials and Methods We performed arthroscopic treatment and rehabilitation on 19 patients with mean age of 37±8,3 years, 12 males and 7 females. Each patient has been evaluated preoperatively (T0), postoperatively after 6 week (T1) and after 3 months of follow up (T2), the assessment was carried out by: administration of the VAS and WOMAC score for pain and function and joint examination of active hip movement through an inertial sensor system.   Results VAS score shows a decrease of pain after 6 week (mean decrease was 36%) and after 3 months (mean decrease was 33%). WOMAC score shows an increase of the funcional performance of the hip after 3 weeks and after 3 months (in both phases the mean score increase of the 44%) At last, the analysis of the active movement and of the hip joint showed a generalized increase in all movements both 6 weeks and 3 months after surgery, in particular for flexion (with the knee flexed) and internal rotation movements. of the hip.   Conclusion The results of this study are in line with the current scientific literature and the protocol used represents a valid tool to complete the surgical treatment. The proposal of an early, intensive treatment combined with hydrokinesitherapy seems to be safe and effective, however further studies are needed (increasing the sample size) to investigate the results.

THE ROLE of a BIKE FIT in CYCLISTS with HIP PAIN. A CLINICAL COMMENTARY

Hip pathology is common amongst athletes and the general population. The mechanics of cycling have the potential to exacerbate symptomatic hip pathology and progress articular pathology in patients with morphologic risk factors such as femoroacetabular impingement. A professional fit of the bicycle to the individual which aims to optimize hip joint function can allow patients with hip pathology to exercise in comfort when alternative high impact exercise such as running may not be possible. Conversely improper fit of the bicycle can lead to hip symptoms in otherwise healthy individuals who present with risk factors for hip pain. Accordingly a bike fit can form part of the overall management strategy in a cyclist with hip symptoms. The purpose of this clinical commentary is to discuss hip pathomechanics with respect to cycling, bicycle fitting methodology and the options available to a physical therapist to optimize hip mechanics during the pedaling action.

Is restricted hip movement a risk factor for anterior cruciate ligament injury?

Restricted hip movement along with femoroacetabular impingement (FAI) has been reported to be an important risk factor in anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury. We performed a literature review assessing the evidence that FAI, or restricted hip movement, contributes to the likelihood of sustaining an ACL injury to provide an evidence-based and comprehensive update on the relationship between these pathologies. Studies were divided into three categories: clinical studies, radiological studies and cadaveric studies. Clinical studies primarily assessed the limitations to hip movement in patients with ACL injury, and numerous studies of this kind have demonstrated a relationship between restricted movement and ACL injury. Radiological studies have been able to demonstrate a higher number of bony hip abnormalities in patients with ACL injury. However, due to variable results within these studies, it is unclear which kinds of bony abnormality are specifically associated with an increased risk of ACL injury. Cadaveric studies have demonstrated that peak ACL relative strain was inversely related to the range of internal rotation of the femur, thus providing a potential mechanism for this relationship. In conclusion, clinical and radiological studies have established a correlation between restricted hip and ACL injury, but have been unable to demonstrate an increased risk of future ACL injury in individuals with restricted hip movement. Future prospective cohort studies are necessary to confirm this. Additionally, these findings highlight the need for a thorough clinical assessment of the hip when assessing patients with an ACL injury.

ISHA-Richard Villar Best Clinical Paper Award: Acetabular labral tears in sexually active women: an evaluation of patient satisfaction following hip arthroscopy

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of symptomatic labral tears on the sex lives of women and the effect of surgical intervention on hip symptoms during sexual intercourse. One hundred and twenty consecutive women who had undergone hip arthroscopy under a single surgeon at a tertiary referral centre were identified. A specific questionnaire was designed and sent to each of the patients. Data were collected on the nature of symptoms, if they experienced any hip pain during sexual intercourse and if this had impacted on their sex lives and the degree of resolution of hip symptoms after the procedure, on a scale of 1-10. One hundred and four responses were available. Ninety-two women reported that they were sexually active. Of these, 87 (94%) reported pain during intercourse affecting their sex life. Eight women reported hip pain for a few days following intercourse and four stated that they are often not able to continue on account of the pain. Mean patient satisfaction with a resolution of symptoms during intercourse was 7.8 out of the 10. Seventy-seven women reported a post-operative improvement in the hip symptoms experienced during sex. Labral tears do have a significant effect on the sex life of women. Hip arthroscopy to address the labral tear as well as any underlying pathology relieves the pain experienced by women during intercourse with, a resultant improvement in their sex lives.

Hip capsular thickness correlates with range of motion limitations in femoroacetabular impingement

PURPOSE

Femoroacetabular impingement (FAI) is a clinical entity of the hip causing derangements in range of motion, pain, gait, and function. Computer-assisted modeling and clinical studies suggest that patients with FAI have increased capsular thickness compared to those without.A retrospective chart review was performed to assess relationships between capsular thickness, hip range of motion, and demographic factors in patients with FAI.

METHODS

Local Research Ethics Board approval was obtained to extract electronic medical records for 188 patients at a single institution who had undergone hip arthroscopy. Procedures were performed from 2009 to 2017 by a single, fellowship-trained, board-certified sports medicine orthopaedic surgeon. Inclusion criteria were preoperative hip range of motion testing, positive clinical impingement testing, and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the affected hip. Patient demographics, hip range of motion, and time to surgery were recorded. MRIs were reviewed by a board-certified musculoskeletal radiologist blinded to clinical data. Maximum thickness of the anterior hip capsule was measured in axial, axial oblique, and sagittal oblique sequences. Anterior capsular thickness was also measured at the level of the femoral head-neck junction in axial sequences (axial midline).

RESULTS

Axial midline capsular thickness was negatively correlated with hip flexion (r = - 0.196, p = 0.0042) and internal rotation (r = - 0.143, p = 0.0278). Significant differences were seen between genders in axial midline thickness (5.3 ± 1.4 mm males/4.8 ± 1.3 mm females, p = 0.0079), flexion (113° ± 18° males/120° ± 17° females, p = 0.0029), and internal rotation (23° ± 13° males/29° ± 12° females, p = 0.0155). Significant differences also existed between side affected in flexion (116° ± 17° right/119° ± 17° left, p = 0.0396) and internal rotation (26° ± 12° right/29° ± 13° left, p = 0.0029). Positive correlation was observed between axial oblique capsular thickness and flexion (r = 0.2345) (p = 0.0229).

CONCLUSIONS

Increased anterior hip capsular thickness at the femoral head-neck correlates with limitations in hip range of motion in FAI. The strength of this relationship may be affected between pathologies, genders, and affected side. Pathologic thickening of the hip capsule may contribute to restricted hip mobility on clinical examination, and elucidation of this relationship may provide guidance into capsular management during hip arthroscopy.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

4, retrospective case series.

Arthroscopic excision of heterotopic ossification in the rectus femoris muscle causing extra-articular anterior hip impingement

Subspine impingement is an extra-articular hip impingement syndrome that usually occurs when there is abnormal contact between an enlarged or malorientated anterior inferior iliac spine (AIIS) and the distal anterior femoral neck in straight flexion of the hip. We present the case of a 13-year-old boy with a history of left groin pain and loss of range of movement of the hip for over six months following an avulsion fracture of the AIIS during a game of rugby. He was diagnosed with subspine impingement secondary to a large lesion of heterotopic ossification in the rectus femoris; this was dissected and extracted from the muscle in toto arthroscopically. This case highlights the importance of heterotopic ossification after injury as an important cause for subspine impingement in the young adult hip. This is the first report and describes subspine impingement secondary to a large lesion of heterotopic ossification.

Outcomes of cartilage repair techniques for chondral injury in the hip-a systematic review

OBJECTIVE/PURPOSE

The aim of the study was to assess the options of treatment and their related outcomes for chondral injuries in the hip based on the available evidence whilst highlighting new and innovative techniques.

METHODS

A systematic review of the literature from PubMed (Medline), EMBASE, Google Scholar, British Nursing Index (BNI), Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL) and Allied and Complementary Medicine Database (AMED) was undertaken from their inception to March 2017 using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. Clinical outcome studies, prospective/retrospective case series and case reports that described the outcome of cartilage repair technique for the chondral injury in the hip were included. Studies on total hip replacement, animal studies, basic studies, trial protocols and review articles were excluded.

RESULTS

The systematic review found 21 relevant papers with 596 hips. Over 80% of the included studies were published in or after 2010. Most studies were case series or case reports (18 studies, 85.7%). Arthroscopy was used in 11 studies (52.4%). The minimum follow-up period was six months. Mean age of the participants was 37.2 years; 93.5% of patients had cartilage injuries of the acetabulum and 6.5% of them had injuries of the femoral head. Amongst the 11 techniques described in the systematic review, autologous matrix-induced chondrogenesis, osteochondral autograft transplantation and microfracture were the three frequently reported techniques.

CONCLUSION

Over ten different techniques are available for cartilage repair in the hip, and most of them have good short- to medium-term outcomes. However, there are no robust comparative studies to assess superiority of one technique over another, and further research is required in this arena.

Impact of extra-articular pathologies on groin pain: An arthroscopic evaluation

Purpose

For patients who have anterior hip pain evaluated by Patrick’s test and tenderness at Scarpa’s triangle, we perform periarticular debridement based on the hypothesis that extra-articular pathologies are responsible for the hip pain. The purpose of this study was to categorize the endoscopic extra-articular findings and to evaluate the clinical significance of periarticular pathologies in anterior hip pain.

Methods

Arthroscopic findings of 77 patients who underwent periarthritic debridement were evaluated. As extra-articular pathologies, injuries of the direct head and reflective head of the rectus femoris muscle were evaluated. A thin layer of fat tissue normally exists on the anterior inferior iliac spine (AIIS), the attachment site of the direct head of the rectus femoris muscle. The macroscopic appearance of the fat pad on the AIIS was categorized as normal, blood vessel-rich adipose tissue or adipose tissue with fibrosis or scar formation and histologically confirmed. Adhesion of gluteal muscles to the joint capsule was also evaluated.

Results

Of the 77 patients, 75 had rupture of the direct head of the rectus femoris. In contrast, rupture of the reflective head was extremely rare. Seven patients had a normal fat pad on the AIIS, 11 had blood vessel-rich adipose tissue and 55 had adipose tissue with fibrosis. Fat tissue was completely replaced by fibrous scar tissue in another 4 patients. In 64 patients, adhesion between the anterior joint capsule and gluteus muscles was marked. Groin pain disappeared soon after the operation even when labral tears were not repaired and all patients returned to daily life and sports activities within 2 weeks after operation.

Conclusion

Rectus femoris tendinosis, fibrosis of the AIIS fat pad, and adhesion of gluteal and rectus femoris muscles are common extra-articular pathologies in patients with anterior hip pain. Management of only these lesions induces rapid relief of anterior hip pain even in the absence of labral tear repair. My observations suggest that it is desirable to be aware of the presence of periarticular pathologies as a cause of groin pain.

Complications following arthroscopic surgery of the hip: a systematic review of 36 761 cases

AIMS

The number of patients undergoing arthroscopic surgery of the hip has increased significantly during the past decade. It has now become an established technique for the treatment of many intra- and extra-articular conditions affecting the hip. However, it has a steep learning curve and is not without the risk of complications. The purpose of this systematic review was to determine the prevalence of complications during and following this procedure.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines were used in designing this study. Two reviewers systematically searched the literature for complications related to arthroscopy of the hip. The research question and eligibility criteria were established a priori. Pertinent data were abstracted and analysed.

RESULTS

We found 276 relevant studies with a total of 36 761 arthroscopies that met the inclusion criteria. The mean age of the patients was 36.7 years (1.7 to 70) and the mean body mass index was 25.7 kg/m² (20.2 to 29.2). Femoroacetabular impingement and labral tears were the most common indications for the procedure. The total number of complications was 1222 (3.3%). Nerve injury (0.9%), mainly involving the pudendal and lateral femoral cutaneous nerves, and iatrogenic chondral and labral injury (0.7%), were the two most common complications. There were 58 major complications (0.2%), the most common being intra-abdominal extravasation of fluid, which was found in 13 cases (0.04%). There were three deaths (0.008%).

CONCLUSION

Arthroscopic surgery of the hip is a procedure with a relatively low rate of complications, although some may be significant in this young cohort of patients. This study relied on the reported complications only and the results should be interpreted with caution. Cite this article: Bone Joint J 2017;99-B:1577-83.

Fluoroscopy Learning Curve in Hip Arthroscopy-A Single Surgeon's Experience

PURPOSE

To determine if (1) absorbed radiation dose and (2) fluoroscopy time decreased with experience over the first 100 cases of a single surgeon's hip arthroscopy practice.

METHODS

Subjects who underwent hip arthroscopy for symptomatic femoroacetabular impingement and labral injury were eligible for analysis. Inclusion criteria included the first 100 subjects who underwent hip arthroscopy by a single surgeon (December 2013 to December 2014). Subject demographics, procedure details, fluoroscopy absorbed dose (milligray [mGy]), and time were recorded. Subjects were categorized by date of surgery to one of 4 possible groups (25 per group). One-way analysis of variance was used to determine if a significant difference in dose (mGy) or time was present between groups. Simple linear regression analysis was performed to determine the relation between case number and both radiation dose and fluoroscopy time.

RESULTS

Subjects underwent labral repair (n = 93), cam osteoplasty (n = 90), and pincer acetabuloplasty (n = 65). There was a significant (P < .001 for both) linear regression between case number and both radiation dose and fluoroscopy time. A significant difference in mGy was observed between groups, group 1 the highest and group 4 the lowest amounts of radiation (P = .003). Comparing individual groups, group 4 was found to have a significantly lower amount of radiation than group 1 (P = .002), though it was not significantly lower than that of group 2 (P = .09) or group 3 (P = .08). A significant difference in fluoroscopy time was observed between groups, group 1 the highest and group 4 the lowest times (P = .05). Comparing individual groups, group 4 was found to have a significantly lower fluoroscopy time than group 1 (P = .039). Correction for weight, height, and body mass index all revealed the same findings: significant (P < .05) differences in both dose and time across groups.

CONCLUSIONS

The absorbed dose of radiation and fluoroscopy time decreased significantly over the first 100 cases of a single surgeon's hip arthroscopy practice learning curve.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Level IV, therapeutic, retrospective, noncomparative case series.

Femoroacetabular Impingement Syndrome: A Cause of Hip Pain in Adolescents and Young Adults

The primary objective of this review is further education of the general practitioner, or family medicine physician, on an important, but often missed, cause of hip pain in the adolescent and young adult population, femoroacetabular impingement (FAI) syndrome. We hope that further understanding of the etiology, examination, diagnosis, and treatment of FAI, will lead to more accurate diagnosis and timely referral to the Orthopedic hip specialist for definitive treatment and management. Thus, preventing the complications, or late sequelae, associated with the condition.

Accuracy of navigated cam resection in femoroacetabular impingement: A randomised controlled trial

BACKGROUND

The main cause for revision hip arthroscopy surgery is incomplete bony resection of femoroacetabular impingement (FAI). This study aimed to compare the cam resection accuracy via the conventional hip arthroscopy technique with the navigation technique.

METHODS

Two prospectively randomized groups were recruited: navigated (n = 15) and conventional (n = 14). A pre-operative CT and post-operative MRI scan were obtained in all cases to compare alpha angle, range of motion simulation and determine a pre-operative 3D surgical resection plan.

RESULTS

Post-operatively, the mean maximal alpha angle improved significantly in the navigated group compared with the conventional group (55°vs.66°; P = 0.023), especially in the 12 o' clock position (45°vs.60°; P = 0.041). However, positioning time and radiation exposure were significantly longer in the navigated group.

CONCLUSION

Navigated surgery is effective for patients with cam type FAI in helping restore normal anatomy, however, not without drawbacks. Larger studies will be required to validate our results.

Postarthroscopy Imaging in Femoroacetabular Impingement: Persistent Pain May Be Due to an Insufficient Correction of Preoperative Abnormalities

Purpose  The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of correction of abnormal radiographic parameters on postoperative pain in a group of patients treated arthroscopically for femoracetabular impingement (FAI).

Methods  A retrospective study was performed on 23 patients affected by mixed-type FAI and treated arthroscopically. There were 11 males and 12 females with a mean age of 46.5 (range: 28–67) years. Center-edge (CE) and α angles were measured on preoperative and postoperative radiographic and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) studies and were correlated with persistent pain at follow-up.

Results  The mean preoperative CE and α angles were 38.6 ± 5.2 and 67.3 ± 7.2 degrees, respectively. At follow-up, in the 17 pain-free patients, the mean pre- and postoperative CE angle were 38.1 ± 5.6 and 32.6 ± 4.8 degrees, respectively, whereas the mean pre- and postoperative α angles at MRI were 66.3 ± 7.9 and 47.9 ± 8.9 degrees, respectively. In six patients with persistent hip pain, the mean pre- and postoperative CE angles were 39.8 ± 3.6 and 35.8 ± 3.1 degrees, respectively, whereas the mean pre- and postoperative α angles were 70.0 ± 3.9 and 58.8 ± 2.6 degrees, respectively. Mean values of all the analyzed radiological parameters, except CE angle in patients with pain, improved significantly after surgery. On comparing patient groups, significantly lower postoperative α angles and lower CE angle were observed in patients without pain.

Conclusion  In case of persistent pain after arthroscopic treatment of FAI, a new set of imaging studies must be performed because pain may be related to an insufficient correction of preoperative radiographic abnormalities.

Level of Evidence  Level IV, retrospective case series.

Historical review of arthroscopic surgery of the hip

BACKGROUND & PURPOSE

Increasing our appreciation of the historical foundations of hip arthroscopy offers greater insight and understanding of the field's current and future applications. This article offers a broad history of the progress of hip arthroscopy.

METHODS

Hip arthroscopy's development from the early technologies of endoscopy to the present day is described through a review of the available literature.

RESULTS

Endoscopic science begins with the Lichtleiter, developed by Phillip Bozzini (1779-1809) in 1806, but endoscopes were not applied to joints until 1912, as presented by Severin Nordentoft (1866-1922). The work of Kenji Takagi (1888-1963), especially, was instrumental in the arthroscope's development, allowing Michael Burman (1901-75) to perform the first recorded hip arthroscopy, detailed in a 1931 paper after extensive cadaveric research. Although World War II stalled further development, a renewed application of fibre optics following post-war innovations in glass manufacture heralded the modern arthroscope's invention. During the 1970s hip arthroscopy was first mobilized for diagnosis and exploration, leading to its later adoption for therapeutic surgical interventions. Modern hip arthroscopy has been facilitated by international research into optimum distraction, portals of entry, positioning of patients, and the technology of arthroscopic instruments. In 2008, the International Society for Hip Arthroscopy (ISHA) was founded to represent this international expert community.

CONCLUSIONS

Technology, communication and evidence-based medicine have jointly facilitated the development of this young but promising corner of Orthopaedics.

Pseudoaneurysm of a branch of the femoral circumflex artery as a complication of revision arthroscopic release of the iliopsoas tendon

Treatment of painful internal snapping hip via arthroscopic release of the iliopsoas tendon is becoming the preferred option over open techniques because of the benefits of minimal dissection and fewer complications. However, complications do occur with arthroscopic techniques as well. We present the case of a 33-year-old woman who presented with painful internal snapping of her right hip and underwent arthroscopic release of the iliopsoas tendon. Following the procedure she continued to complain of pain in her groin and was therefore investigated further with a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) which revealed a swelling near the femoral circumflex vessels. A computed tomography (CT) angiogram revealed a 15 mm pseudoaneurysm of the femoral circumflex artery, which was successfully treated by selective catheterisation and embolisation. Hip arthroscopists should be sufficiently familiar with the vascular anatomy around the hip and keep this complication in mind when releasing the iliopsoas tendon arthroscopically especially in revision cases with adhesions.

Accuracy of non-arthrographic 3T MR imaging in evaluation of intra-articular pathology of the hip in femoroacetabular impingement

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the accuracy of non-arthrographic 3-T MRI compared to hip arthroscopy in the assessment of labral and cartilaginous pathology in patients with suspected FAI.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Following IRB approval and waived consent, 42 consecutive cases of suspected FAI with non-arthrographic 3-T MRI and arthroscopy of the hip were reviewed. High-resolution TSE MR imaging was evaluated in consensus by two musculoskeletal radiologists, blinded to arthroscopic findings, for the presence of labral tears and articular cartilage lesions. Acetabular cartilage was categorized as normal, degeneration/fissuring, delamination, or denudation. MRI findings were compared to arthroscopy. Sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, and predictive values for MRI were calculated using arthroscopy as the standard of reference.

RESULTS

Forty-two hips in 38 patients with a mean age of 29 (range 13-45 years) were assessed. Mean interval between MRI and arthroscopy was 154 days (range 27-472 days). MRI depicted 41 cases with labral tears (sensitivity 100%, specificity 50%, accuracy 98%, PPV 98%, NPV 100%), 11 cases with femoral cartilage abnormalities (sensitivity 85%, specificity 100%, accuracy 95%, PPV 100%, NPV 94%), and 36 cases with acetabular cartilage lesions (sensitivity 94% specificity 67%, accuracy 90%, PPV 94%, NPV 67%). Of the 36 cases with acetabular cartilage lesions on MRI, 7 were characterized as degeneration/fissuring, 26 as delamination, and 3 as denudation, with discordant results between MRI and arthroscopy for grading of articular cartilage in ten cases.

CONCLUSION

Non-arthrographic 3-T MR imaging is a highly accurate technique for evaluation of the labrum and cartilage in patients with clinically suspected FAI.

Can hip arthroscopy in the presence of arthritis delay the need for hip arthroplasty?

Hip arthroscopy for joint preservation surgery has grown immensely over the last two decades. There is now an increasing trend to try and expand the role of hip arthroscopy to include patients of an older age or perhaps even with signs of arthritis, instead of the established patient group of young adults with mechanical symptoms or serious athletes. But how much of this growth is really justified? Once arthritis is apparent, the arthroscopic procedures needed to try and limit progression of the disease are likely to be different to those needed in young adult non-arthritic hips. Similarly, the expectation of results following an arthroscopic procedure in an older adult with arthritis must also be different. With an almost 5-fold increase in conversion rate from arthroscopy to arthroplasty in the over 50s population, arthroscopy in arthritis is a different procedure, with a different outcome, to arthroscopy in young adults with no evidence of osteoarthritis. This article takes a closer inspection at outcomes following hip arthroscopy in the older population particularly in those with evidence of early arthritis. This paper does not attempt to make recommendations in other diagnoses such as inflammatory arthritis or other secondary arthritides. It must be considered that hip arthroscopy is not a benign intervention: as well as the surgical risks, the lengthy rehabilitation period should be factored into the equation. Although the nature of surgeons is to find new techniques and push boundaries, we highlight the need for caution in undertaking arthroscopic intervention when arthritis is already apparent at presentation.

Measuring hip muscle strength in patients with femoroacetabular impingement and other hip pathologies: A systematic review

Objectives

The aim of this study was to systematically review the literature on measurement of muscle strength in patients with femoroacetabular impingement (FAI) and other pathologies and to suggest guidelines to standardise protocols for future research in the field.

Methods

The Cochrane and PubMed libraries were searched for any publications using the terms ‘hip’, ‘muscle’, ‘strength’, and ‘measurement’ in the ‘Title, Abstract, Keywords’ field. A further search was performed using the terms ‘femoroacetabular’ or ‘impingement’. The search was limited to recent literature only.

Results

A total of 29 articles were reviewed to obtain information on a number of variables. These comprised the type of device used for measurement, rater standardisation, the type of movements tested, body positioning and comparative studies of muscle strength in FAI versus normal controls. The studies found that hip muscle strength is lower in patients with FAI; this is also true for the asymptomatic hip in patients with FAI.

Conclusions

Current literature on this subject is limited and examines multiple variables. Our recommendations for achieving reproducible results include stabilising the patient, measuring isometric movements and maximising standardisation by using a single tester and familiarising the participants with the protocol. Further work must be done to demonstrate the reliability of any new testing method.

Cite this article: E. Mayne, A. Memarzadeh, P. Raut, A. Arora, V. Khanduja. Measuring hip muscle strength in patients with femoroacetabular impingement and other hip pathologies: A systematic review. Bone Joint Res 2017;6:66–72. DOI: 10.1302/2046-3758.61.BJR-2016-0081.

Intra-Articular Injections in Patients with Femoroacetabular Impingement: a Prospective, Randomized, Double-blind, Cross-over Study

We evaluated and compared the effectiveness of intra-articular injection of hip joint using hyaluronic acid and steroid in patients with femoroacetabular impingement (FAI). Thirty patients with FAI clinically and radiologically were enrolled and underwent hip injection using steroid (TA) or hyaluronic acid (HA) at 0-weeks with cross-over injection at 2-weeks in patients without clinical response of decrease of pain intensity less than 2-point. Patients were followed up to 12-weeks for pain intensity (Numeric rating scale, NRS: 0-10), hip disability score (HOOS), oral medication and adverse events. In 17 patients without cross-over, HOOS at 2-weeks was improved significantly in patients with HA injection (mean increase of HOOS = 13.8 with HA vs. -2.2 with TA, P = 0.031) without difference of NRS (P = 0.943). In 13 patients with cross-over, NRS was significantly improved at 2-weeks with first TA injection (mean decrease of NRS= 1.7 with first TA vs. 0.3 with first HA, P = 0.036), without difference of HOOS (P = 0.431). At 4-weeks, NRS and HOOS were significantly different according to injection drugs (NRS: 0.9 with TA first and HA later vs. 2.7 with HA first and TA later, P = 0.001; mean increase of HOOS: 5.3 with TA first and HA later vs. 10.2 with HA first and TA later, P = 0.032). Intra-articular hip injection may be effective in FAI, with faster effect of pain improvement by TA and more delayed effect of function improvement by HA.

Cementless Total Hip Replacement for the Management of Severe Developmental Dysplasia of the Hip in the Middle Eastern Population: A Prospective Analysis

Introduction

In the Middle East, severe developmental dysplasia of the hip with subsequent high dislocation is often seen. We assessed the efficiency of total hip replacement (THR) with subtrochanteric shortening femoral osteotomy and trochanteric advancement in this population.

Methods

This prospective study assessed 25 female patients with symptomatic and severe (Crowe IV). Pre- and postoperative Harris hip score (HHS) and Oxford hip score (OHS) were performed alongside assessment of leg length discrepancy (LLD) and the ability to sit in a cross-legged position.

Results

The mean HHS and OHS improved pre-operatively at 1 and 10 years, respectively (p-value < 0.001). The mean postoperative LLD was 3 mm (0–8 mm). Functionally, 22/25 patients were able to sit cross-legged. None of the 25 hips underwent revision during this period.

Conclusion

Total hip replacement with subtrochanteric shortening osteotomy in combination with trochanteric advancement is sufficient for the management of Crowe type IV hips in this population.

The normal ischiofemoral distance and its variations

The aim of this study is to measure the ischiofemoral distance (IFD) in the normal hip with healthy surrounding soft tissues and describe its variations caused by gender, age and proximal femoral anatomy so that this could serve as a reference for future studies on this subject. This is a retrospective study in which we reviewed the CT scans of 149 patients (298 hips) who had a CT of their pelvis for non-orthopaedic (abdomino-pelvic) pathology. The images were reviewed by two independent observers and the IFD (the smallest distance between the lateral cortex of the ischial tuberosity and the posteromedial cortex of the lesser trochanter), offset (the perpendicular distance from the centre of the femoral head to a line running down the middle of the shaft of the femur) and the neck-shaft angle (the angle between the lines in the middle of the neck to the line forming the axis of the femoral shaft) were measured. The CT scans belonged to 71 males and 78 females (M: 48%, F: 52%), with an average age of 51  ± 19 years (range 18–92). The mean IFD was 18.6  ±  8 mm in the females and 23  ± 7 mm in the males and this difference was statistically significant (P <  0.001). The IFD increased by 1.06 mm for each 1 mm of offset and dropped by 0.09 mm with each year of age. However, the neck-shaft angle did not show any significant correlation with the IFD.

Chondrolysis after hip arthroscopy

We report the case of a 58-year-old woman who presented with left hip pain and was diagnosed with femoroacetabular impingement. She underwent hip arthroscopy to repair a degenerative labral tear, as well as radiofrequency debridement and microfracture of the exposed chondral defect, and femoral osteoplasty. Two months after hip arthroscopy, hip pain and limping began. Hip radiography showed a concentric decrease of joint space and no signs of joint incongruity or osteophytosis. Revision surgery 4 months after hip arthroscopy showed that the cartilage of the femoral head was soft and separated from the subchondral bone.

YouTube as an information source for femoroacetabular impingement: a systematic review of video content

PURPOSE

This study was carried out to assess the quality of information available on YouTube regarding femoroacetabular impingement (FAI).

METHODS

YouTube was searched on September 7, 2013 using the search terms FAI, femoroacetabular impingement, and hip impingement. Analysis was restricted to the first 3 pages of results for each search term. English language was a prerequisite for inclusion. Videos were evaluated by 2 independent reviewers (M.G.M., D.J.H.) using novel scoring checklists for diagnosis and treatment of FAI. Interobserver reliability analysis was evaluated using the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC). Videos were grouped according to quality assessment score, and the group means were analyzed for differences in video characteristics using the analysis of variance (ANOVA) model. Videos were characterized by the source of content.

RESULTS

After filtering 1,288,324 potential videos, 52 videos were identified and included for analysis. The mean video quality assessment scores were 3.1 for diagnosis and 2.9 for treatment (maximum score = 16). No videos were scored as excellent (quality assessment score > 12). Effective resources included 3 videos on diagnosis and one video on treatment. No statistically significant differences were found between high- and low-scoring videos for duration, days online, views per day, likes, likes per day, likes per view, dislikes, or likes-dislikes difference for either diagnosis or treatment (P > .05 for all). The source of most of the videos was educational (67%), and most of these included physicians (66%).

CONCLUSIONS

Patients searching YouTube for videos pertaining to FAI will be presented with a sizeable repository of content of overall low quality. As such, physicians need to recognize the potential influence of YouTube videos on patients' preconceptions of their conditions and the effect on the physician-patient consultation. This review highlights the need for evidence-based, comprehensive educational videos addressing FAI diagnosis and treatment.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Level V, systematic review of non-peer-reviewed resources.

Ligamentum teres injury is associated with the articular damage pattern in patients with femoroacetabular impingement

PURPOSE

The objective of this study was to investigate the association between ligamentum teres injury and the hip joint cartilage damage pattern in patients with femoroacetabular impingement.

METHODS

We compared articular cartilage damage between ligamentum teres-intact and-ruptured hips. Data were collected for 77 consecutive patients with femoroacetabular impingement who underwent hip arthroscopy. The locations of the chondral lesions were recorded on anatomic articular maps using the geographic zone method. The patients were divided into 2 groups (ligamentum teres-intact and-injured groups), and the incidence and degree of cartilage injury were compared between the 2 groups by use of the Mann-Whitney U test.

RESULTS

In patients with ligamentum teres injury, chondral damage extended to the middle-inferior area of the acetabulum (7.6% [grade 1] in ligamentum teres-intact group and 66.6% [grade 1, 12.1%; grade 2, 42.4%; grade 3, 12.1%] in ligamentum teres-injured group, P < .01) and the apex of the femoral head (anterior apex: 7.1% [grade 1, 3.8%; grade 2, 3.3%] in intact group and 42.4% [grade 1, 30.3%; grade 2, 12.1%] in injured group, P < .01; middle apex: 7.6% [grade 1, 3.8%; grade 2, 3.8%] in intact group and 63.5% [grade 1, 42.4%; grade 2, 18.1%; grade 3, 3.0%] in injured group, P = .04; posterior apex: 7.6% [grade 1, 3.8%; grade 2, 3.8%] in intact group and 42.4% [grade 1, 30.3%; grade 2, 12.1%] in injured group, P < .01).

CONCLUSIONS

This study showed the association between ligamentum teres injury and articular cartilage damage in the inferior middle part of the acetabulum and the apex of the femoral head in patients treated for femoroacetabular impingement.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Level IV, case-control study.

Femoroacetabular impingement syndrome--efficacy of surgical treatment with regards to age and basic diagnosis

PURPOSE

The aim of this study was to assess the outcome of hip preserving surgery for femoroacetabular impingement relative to the condition resulting in FAI and to the patient's age at the time of the surgery.

METHODS

With the conditions for exclusion duly met, enrolled in our study were a total of 100 hip joints (83 operated on with the aid of SHD, 17 with AMIS). The minimum follow-up period was 12 months, and the mean follow-up time was three years four months. WOMAC and NAHS questionnaires were used as rating instruments. To analyse the significance of the differences relative to the age at the time of surgery and to the basic diagnosis leading to FAI and subsequently to surgical operation we used non-parametric forms of analysis of variance (Friedman test and Kruskal-Wallis test), i.e., comparisons of the patients' pre-operative and postoperative states, estimation of the rate of improvement in the postoperative functional skills in relation to the age at the time of surgery and/or relative to the basic diagnosis necessitating surgical intervention, with respect to statistical significance at the level of p < 0.05.

RESULTS

As testing of our cohort of patients and results analysis showed, the youngest group (<30 years) compared with the rest of the cohort shows greater postoperative improvement and consequently also a better surgical result. Proof was also obtained that the diagnosis leading to surgery for FAI has no effect on the patient's pre- or postoperative state or on the degree of improvement.

CONCLUSIONS

The results of the study affirm the relevance of hip preserving surgery, especially in younger-aged groups.

Prevalence of femoro-acetabular impingement in international competitive track and field athletes

PURPOSE

The aim of our study was to analyse the prevalence of femoro-acetabular impingement (FAI) in national elite track and field athletes compared to peers using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and clinical examination including impingement tests.

METHODS

A total of 44 participants (22 national elite track and field athletes and 22 non-athletes) underwent an MRI for radiological findings associated with FAI, including alpha angle, lateral centre edge angle (CEA), findings of labral and cartilage lesions. The study group was furthermore investigated by the hip outcome score (HOS) and a clinical hip examination including range of motion (ROM) and impingement tests.

RESULTS

Concerning the cam impingement, there was a significant difference measured by mean alpha angle between the athlete group (52.2 ± 7.29°) and the control group (48.1 ± 5.45°, P = 0.004). Eleven athletes showed a cam impingement, while two probands of the control group had a pincer impingement and one a mixed form (P = 0.0217). There was no statistically significant difference concerning the CEA upon evaluating pincer impingement. Seven track and field athletes had a positive impingement test, whereof three had an increased alpha angle >55°. No participant of the control group showed pathological results in the impingement test (P = 0.0121).

CONCLUSIONS

MRI evidence and clinical examination suggest that cam impingement is more common in elite athletes in comparison to non-athletes. At a professional level, the intense practice of track and field athletics is susceptible for FAI.

A less-invasive technique for capsular management during hip arthroscopy for femoroacetabular impingement

The aim of this work is to describe a new arthroscopic technique for the treatment of femoroacetabular impingement that allows a complete articular joint view with maximum protection of the capsuloligamentous complex. This arthroscopic technique avoids injury to the capsuloligamentous complex, preventing the risk of postoperative instability. The diagnosis of femoroacetabular impingement was based on clinical and radiographic grounds. An alpha angle greater than 50° was considered pathologic. In this technique, the use of intra-articular devices (retractors) allows us to separate the capsular tissue from the femoral head-neck junction and mobilize the capsule, achieving an adequate joint view without performing a capsulotomy and, consequently, avoiding the complications of capsular damage.

Validation of a self-reported Beighton score to assess hypermobility in patients with femoroacetabular impingement

PURPOSE

The prevalence of joint hypermobility (JH) in patients with femoroacetabular impingement (FAI) and its association with outcomes is yet widely unknown. This study aimed to validate a self-reported version of the Beighton score for FAI patients, and to determine possible associations between JH and clinical and radiographic parameters.

METHODS

The study included 55 consecutive patients (18 females, mean age 29 years) with a diagnosis of FAI. Patients completed a self-reported Beighton score before clinical assessment, and a clinician blinded to the self-reported form filled the examiner-based version. Reliability of the self-reported version was assessed using kappa statistics. The prevalence of JH and associations with clinical and radiographic parameters were determined.

RESULTS

The patients scored a mean of 2.6 points on the self-reported Beighton score. Agreement between self-assessment and examination was good to excellent for all single items and for the total score. Considering a Beighton score of ≥4 as cutoff for JH, the prevalence in the present cohort was 32.7% (50% of females and 24.3% of males). Significant associations were found between Beighton scores and hip joint motion. While no direct correlations were found between Beighton scores and the radiographic parameters; the group of patients with JH differed considerably from that without JH regarding gender distribution and FAI type.

CONCLUSIONS

The patient-oriented Beighton score proved to be feasible and reliable in FAI patients. The prevalence of JH in these patients seems to be high and future investigations about the association of JH with FAI and treatment outcomes are therefore warranted.

Clinical importance of impingement deformities for hip osteoarthritis progression in a Japanese population

PURPOSE

Femoroacetabular impingement is a new disease concept for hip disorders in young adults suggested as a major cause of primary hip osteoarthritis in Western countries. However, significant controversy exists regarding the prevalence and contribution of impingement deformities to osteoarthritis in Japan, owing to the higher prevalence of developmental dysplasia of the hip. Therefore, the aims of this study were to: (1) determine the prevalence of structural abnormalities associated with hip disorders in patients undergoing total hip replacement and (2) analyse the contribution of impingement deformities to osteoarthritis.

METHODS

We analysed 250 patients from two different medical centres who underwent primary total hip replacement except those which were due to femoral head necrosis, posttraumatic osteoarthritis and systemic inflammatory disease. The average patient age at surgery was 64 years (range, 40-89 years), with 35 men and 215 women.

RESULTS

Radiographic abnormality related to developmental dysplasia of the hip was associated with the majority of osteoarthritic hips (62%). Hips with femoroacetabular impingement deformities were present within the cases categorized as unknown etiology. Cam impingement deformity was present in 22% of unknown aetiology cases when cases with reactive osteophytes were excluded from all cam deformity cases (pistol grip deformity and aspherical femoral heads).

CONCLUSIONS

The prevalence of femoroacetabular impingement within primary osteoarthritis cases and gender predominance of impingement deformities are relatively similar to those reported previously in Western populations. This finding indicates that femoroacetabular impingement deformities are associated with osteoarthritis in the Japanese population, although it has a lower frequency among all hip failure patients.

The effect of femoro-acetabular impingement on the kinematics and kinetics of the hip joint

Gait analysis is an objective tool that has been used to assess and monitor treatment for many musculoskeletal conditions. Recently, it has been used to assess the impact of femoro-acetabular impingement (FAI) on the hip and lower limb movements. There have been a fairly limited number of studies published so far reporting unexpected and inconsistent results, which calls for more research to be conducted in this arena. In the light of the limited data available, it has been challenging to reconcile the contradictions in some of these results, and therefore no coherent conclusions could be drawn. In this short article, we attempt to explain some of the abnormal kinematic and kinetic patterns associated with FAI by highlighting similarities between the gait seen in early osteoarthritis (OA) and that of FAI. We also propose an approach for future research in this field and emphasise the importance of quantifying early OA in FAI based on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans and the amount of chondral damage seen during open or arthroscopic surgery.