Management of labral tears of the hip in young patients

Changes in Hip Labral Size Two Years After Arthroscopic Repair Are Correlated With Preoperative Measurements on Magnetic Resonance Imaging

PURPOSE

The purposes of our study were 1) to investigate the potential change of labral size after arthroscopic repair and 2) to analyze the relationship between acetabular labral size and functional outcomes.

METHODS

In this retrospective study, patients diagnosed with labral tear and undergoing hip arthroscopic repair in our institution between September 2016 and December 2018 were included. Magnetic resonance imaging was obtained preoperatively and postoperatively, and the labral length and labral height were measured in three anatomic sites: 11:30, 1:30, and 3:00 positions. All patients completed at least 2-year follow-up. Patients whose preoperative labral size in any position wider than 2 standard deviation away from the mean were identified as the hypertrophic labrum group and were compared with the control in radiographic variables and patient-reported outcomes (PROs), including the visual analog scale (VAS), modified Harris Hip Score (mHHS), the International Hip Outcome Tool-12 (iHOT-12) and the Hip Outcome Score-Activities of Daily Living (HOS-ADL).

RESULTS

A total of 82 patients (82 hips) were included, and the mean follow-up period was 39.54 ± 8.48 months. Significant improvement in PROs was determined before and after surgeries. Twelve patients were identified with labral hypertrophy and had higher postoperative mHHS scores, higher postoperative iHOT-12 scores, and greater improvement in HOS-ADL compared with the control group. Patients with larger preoperative anterosuperior labral height exhibited more favorable clinical outcomes. Meanwhile, no significantly morphologic change in labral size was determined.

CONCLUSION

There is no significantly morphologic change in labral size of superior, anterosuperior, and anterior labrum after arthroscopic repair. Patients with hypertrophic labrum achieved more favorable clinical outcomes compared with those with normal-sized labrum.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Level III, retrospective comparative prognostic trial.

Arthroscopic Treatment of Mild/Borderline Hip Dysplasia with Concomitant Femoroacetabular Impingement-Literature Review

Purpose of Review

This literature review aims to survey the current knowledge about the management FAI in the setting of borderline hip dysplasia.

Recent Findings

With better understanding, hip arthroscopy has recently been advocated for treating mild or borderline hip dysplasia (BDH) with concomitant femoroacetabular impingement (FAI) despite early studies that condemned its use. Recent outcome data have demonstrated that hip arthroscopy is a viable option in BDH, with and without FAI, and has been gaining wider acceptance. Hip arthroscopy can address the concomitant soft tissue and bony intra-articular pathologies and obviate the necessity for other surgeries. Moreover, hip arthroscopy may be used as an adjuvant treatment to other procedures such as a periacetabular osteotomy (PAO).

Summary

Hip arthroscopy for BDH is an evolving procedure with promising short- and mid-term outcomes. The combination of BDH and FAI is becoming recognized as a problem in its own right, requiring dedicated treatment.

Treatment of femoroacetabular impingement by arthroscopy versus anterior mini-open approach: Case-control study of a continuous series of 91 cases at a mean 4.6 years' follow-up

INTRODUCTION

Femoroacetabular impingement is a frequent cause of hip pain, and can be managed by conservative surgery. Many studies assessed postoperative course, but none compared operative techniques within a given population. We therefore conducted a retrospective case-control study comparing the minimally invasive anterior Hueter approach versus arthroscopy, assessing difference in 1) functional gain and 2) complications and 3) analyzing the impact of labral or cartilage lesions on functional scores.

HYPOTHESIS

Clinical results do not differ between the mini-open and arthroscopic approach.

MATERIAL AND METHOD

Between 2007 and 2018, 91 hips in 84 patients were treated for femoroacetabular impingement: 69/91 (75.8%) cam effect, 6/91 pincer effect (6.6%) and 16/91 mixed (17.6%). Fifty-five were treated by arthroscopy and 36 by the Hueter mini-open approach. There were 20 female and 71 male hips. Mean age at surgery was 32 years (range, 17-55 years). Potential predictive factors comprised Nötzli alpha angle, labral/cartilage lesion and type of surgery.

RESULTS

Mean follow-up was 4.6 years (range, 1-16 years), with no loss to follow-up. The arthroscopy and Hueter groups showed no differences in functional improvement on Oxford-12 score (gain, -6.7±5.9 versus -6.2±8.1 (p=0.73), Postel Merle d'Aubigné (PMA) score (gain, 1.3±1 versus 1.1±0.9; p=0.41), operative time (75 versus 67min; p=0.16), or alpha angle correction (-10.9±12.9 versus -9.8±7.1; p=0.22). Complications did not differ: 1/55 severe complications after arthroscopy (1 definitive femoral nerve palsy) versus 4/36 non-severe complications after Hueter (3 cases of dysesthesia in the lateral cutaneous nerve of the thigh, 1 rectus femoris enthesopathy) (p=0.15). Labral lesions (37/91) did not affect clinical outcome: gain, 1.2±1 versus 1.3±0.9 on PMA (p=0.514) and -7.3±6 versus -6±7.3 on Oxford-12 (p=0.366). Cartilage lesions (27/91) were associated with poorer outcome on PMA (gain, 1±1.1 versus 1.3±0.9; p=002) but not on Oxford-12 (gain, -6.1±7.3 versus -6.7±6.6; p=0.288).

CONCLUSION

Impingement correction by the minimally invasive anterior Hueter approach gave clinical results comparable to those of hip arthroscopy in terms of Oxford and PMA scores, alpha angle correction, operative time and complications. Cartilage lesions were associated with poorer clinical results.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

III; retrospective case-control study.

Diagnosing acetabular labral tears with hip traction sonography: a case series

PURPOSE

Three cases of acetabular labral tear (ALT) diagnosed with sonography (US) are reported. We aim to show utility for US with the addition of manual hip traction as an adjunctive modality to the current diagnostic imaging of choice, magnetic resonance arthrography (MRA), for diagnosing ALT.

METHODS

Three cases of young athletic patients with similar clinical presentations are reported. All received US examination of the hip with attention to the labrum that included a novel long-axis hip traction technique which assisted in diagnosing ALT.

RESULTS

In the first and second cases, MRA and orthopedic consult were obtained for confirmation of the diagnosis. Arthroscopy was performed to correct the ALT. The third patient declined an MRA. Conservative management consisted of McKenzie method active care, resulting in return to sport in the third case.

CONCLUSION

These three cases demonstrate the clinical and sonographic presentation of ALT. The dynamic long-axis hip traction protocol facilitated the use of US as an adjunctive modality for diagnosing ALT by increasing the visualization of the defect.

Midterm Outcomes Following Repair of Capsulotomy Versus Nonrepair in Patients Undergoing Hip Arthroscopy for Femoroacetabular Impingement With Labral Repair

PURPOSE

The purpose of this study was to compare the midterm outcomes and conversion to total hip arthroplasty (THA) rate in patients who had repair of the capsulotomy versus nonrepair following arthroscopic hip labral repair and correction of femoroacetabular impingement (FAI).

METHODS

All patients undergoing primary arthroscopic hip labral repair and correction of FAI between 2005 and 2012 were eligible for this study. Exclusion criteria were age < 18 years, lateral center-edge angle < 25°, previous hip procedures, femoral avascular necrosis, radiographic joint space ≤ 2 mm, or microfracture at arthroscopy. Patients who did not have the capsulotomy repaired were matched 1:2 with patients who had the capsulotomy repaired. Patients were matched by age, gender, and intraoperative procedures. The primary outcome score was the Hip Outcome Score Daily Living (HOS-ADL).

RESULTS

Forty-two patients (18 female patients, 24 male patients) without repair of the capsulotomy were matched with 84 patients with repaired capsulotomy. The average age for both groups was 38 ± 15 years. Patients in the nonrepair group were 6.8 (95% confidence interval, 1.2-52) times more likely to undergo THA compared with the repair group. There was no difference in revision rate between the 2 groups. The mean follow-up time was 7.3 ± 2.7 years and 6.4 ± 2.3 years for the nonrepair and repair group, respectively (P = .107). Patients in the repair group had significantly higher HOS-ADL (P = .01) and modified Harris hip score (mHHS; P = .007). The percentage of patients who reached minimum clinically important difference was significantly higher in the repair group for HOS-ADL (P = .002) and HOS-Sport (P = .036) compared with the nonrepair group. However, there was no difference in the percentage of patients who reached minimal important change for the mHHS (P = .060). Following hip arthroscopy, the average alpha angle was 41.6° ± 6° in the nonrepair group and 40.8° ± 3° in the repair group.

CONCLUSIONS

Patients who undergo arthroscopic FAI correction and hip labral repair with repair of the capsulotomy had higher HOS-ADL and mHHS scores at midterm follow-up compared with patients with nonrepair, and the percentage of patients who reached the minimum clinically important difference was significantly higher in the repair group for HOS-ADL and HOS-Sport compared with the nonrepair group. In addition, a lower rate of conversion to THA was seen in the repair group.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Level III, retrospective comparative study.

Subspine Hip Impingement: An Unusual Cause of Hip Pain in an Elite Weightlifter

Anterior hip pain can be difficult to diagnose due to the many pathologies and overlapping pain patterns that exist in the hip region. Clinical findings of pain at the anterior inferior iliac spine with passive hip flexion, proximal quadriceps pain and weakness, and painful impingement tests of the hip may be indicative of subspine hip impingement. This report describes the diagnosis and treatment of anterior hip pain, including subspine impingement and femoroacetabular impingement in an elite weightlifter. This case also describes how with the correct diagnosis and treatment, the athlete returned to play to her previous level of sport 11 months after a complex hip injury.

Magnetic resonance arthrography and the prevalence of acetabular labral tears in patients 50 years of age and older

OBJECTIVE

Arthroscopy for acetabular labral tears has minimal impact on pain and function in older patients, especially in the setting of concomitant osteoarthritis. Still, many physicians seek this diagnosis with MR arthrography. Our purpose is to assess the frequency of acetabular labral tears in older patients with hip pain and correlate likelihood of labral pathology with severity of osteoarthritis as visualized on conventional radiograph.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

From 2004 to 2013, 208 hip MRI arthrograms and corresponding radiographs on patients aged 50 years and older were identified. Age, gender, grade and location of labral tear, alpha angle, Tönnis grade, and joint space width were documented. Labral tears and alpha angle were identified and measured on MR arthrogram. Tönnis grade and joint space width were measured on radiographs.

RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS

On MR arthrography, true labral tearing was identified in 73 % of patients. There was some degree of labral pathology in 93.3 % of patients, and this increased to 100 % in patients with moderate to severe osteoarthritis, as defined by Tönnis grade 2-3 or joint space width ≤ 2 mm. There were no statistically significant correlations between labral tear grade and Tönnis grade or joint space width. Given the high frequency of labral pathology and the questionable efficacy of arthroscopic surgical intervention in older patients, MR arthrography should be primarily for those with minimal arthritis on radiograph and potential to benefit from surgery. If further imaging beyond radiographs is necessary in these patients, standard MRI may be a more appropriate imaging tool.