The Association of α Angle on Disease Severity in Adolescent Femoroacetabular Impingement

Radiological predictors of outcomes in hip arthroscopy for femoroacetabular impingement

Aims

Hip arthroscopy has gained prominence as a primary surgical intervention for symptomatic femoroacetabular impingement (FAI). This study aimed to identify radiological features, and their combinations, that predict the outcome of hip arthroscopy for FAI.

Methods

A prognostic cross-sectional cohort study was conducted involving patients from a single centre who underwent hip arthroscopy between January 2013 and April 2021. Radiological metrics measured on conventional radiographs and magnetic resonance arthrography were systematically assessed. The study analyzed the relationship between these metrics and complication rates, revision rates, and patient-reported outcomes.

Results

Out of 810 identified hip arthroscopies, 359 hips were included in the study. Radiological risk factors associated with unsatisfactory outcomes after cam resection included a dysplastic posterior wall, Tönnis grade 2 or higher, and over-correction of the α angle. The presence of acetabular retroversion and dysplasia were also significant predictors for worse surgical outcomes. Notably, over-correction of both cam and pincer deformities resulted in poorer outcomes than under-correction.

Conclusion

We recommend caution in performing hip arthroscopy in patients who have three positive acetabular retroversion signs. Acetabular dysplasia with a lateral centre-edge angle of less than 20° should not be treated with isolated hip arthroscopy. Acetabular rim-trimming should be avoided in patients with borderline dysplasia, and care should be taken to avoid over-correction of a cam deformity and/or pincer deformity.

Mid- to Long-Term Outcomes in Patients After Hip Arthroscopy With Labral Reconstruction: A Systematic Review

Background

There is a paucity of aggregate data documenting mid- to long-term outcomes of patients after hip arthroscopy with labral reconstruction.

Purpose

To report mid- to long-term outcomes in patients after undergoing either primary or revision hip arthroscopy with labral reconstruction for the treatment of irreparable labral tears.

Study Design

Systematic review; Level of evidence, 4.

Methods

A systematic review of the PubMed, Cochrane, and Scopus databases in May 2022 was conducted with the following keywords: "hip arthroscopy,""labral reconstruction,""irreparable,""labrum,""reconstruction,""five-year,""midterm,""5 year,""long-term,""10 year," ten-year," and "femoroacetabular impingement" using the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses criteria. Midterm was defined as mean 5-year follow-up, and long-term was defined as mean 10-year or longer follow-up. For each included article, the demographic, radiographic, intraoperative, and surgical variables, as well as patient-reported outcomes (PROs), psychometric thresholds, and secondary surgeries were recorded. Forest plots were created for PROs that were reported in ≥3 studies; heterogeneity was assessed using I2 values.

Results

Out of 463 initial articles, 5 studies including 178 hips with primary and 41 hips with revision surgeries were included. One study had an average 5-year follow-up, three studies had a minimum 5-year follow-up and one study had a minimum 10-year follow-up. The most common indications for hip arthroscopy with labral reconstruction were irreparable labral tears. The most common PRO was the modified Harris Hip Score (mHHS), which was reported in all 5 studies. The mean preoperative mHHS ranged from 58.9 to 66, and the mean postoperative mHHS at minimum 5-year follow-up ranged from 80.2 to 89. The preoperative and postoperative mHHSs for the single long-term follow-up study were 60 and 82, respectively. All 5 studies demonstrated significant improvements in reported PROs. All 5 studies reported secondary surgery rates, with 1 study reporting rates at both 5- and 10-year follow-up. Conversion to total hip arthroplasty ranged from 0% to 27%, while overall secondary surgery rates ranged from 0% to 36%.

Conclusion

Findings demonstrated that patients undergoing primary and revision hip arthroscopy with labral reconstruction experienced favorable outcomes and high rates of clinical benefit and survivorship at mid- to long-term follow-up.

Editorial Commentary: Younger Patients With Hip Femoroacetabular Impingement Syndrome and a Superolateral Cam Lesion Location May Require Aggressive Treatment to Prevent Post-Arthroscopy Total Hip Replacement

Hip femoroacetabular impingement syndrome is observed in 47% to 74% of patients with hip pain. Femoroacetabular impingement syndrome may result in osteoarthritis. It is well known that cam lesion volume and hip alpha angle are critical parameters determining patient outcomes. Recent research shows that a superolateral cam lesion location increases risk of hip arthroplasty at 5 years, and that this is more common in younger patients. The clinical relevance is that we may need to more aggressively treat superolateral cam lesions in younger patients, pending additional research to determine whether location is destiny.

Association of Chondrolabral Lesions with Ultrasound-Guided Detection of Pathological Head-Neck Contour

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to investigate whether the asphericity of the neck-head junction of the femur confirmed via ultrasound is associated with further pathology due to femoro-acetabular impingement (FAI).

METHODOLOGY

After a clinical examination with positive FAI tests, an ultrasound examination of the hip was performed. In the case of asphericity, a quantitative ultrasound-assisted assessment of the hip was performed, followed by contrast-enhanced arthro-MRI with the question of cartilage or labral damage.

RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS

We included 51 patients with a mean age of 35.25. According to the examination algorithm, asphericity was present in all patients via ultrasonography. The average anterior alpha angle (AAA) determined in ultrasonography was 43.49°. The average AAA on the arthro-MRI was 44.19°. The mean anterior head neck offset (AHNO) in ultrasound was 5.27 mm, and in arthro-MRI, it was 5.36 mm. Arthro-MRI confirmed a bump in 47 patients and a talization disorder in 4 patients. In 49 patients, a labral lesion was found, with one being a re-rupture. Furthermore, in one patient, labral degeneration was identified. Cartilage damage to the hip joint was found in 25 patients. Two patients had neither labral nor cartilage damage in the arthro-MRI. In our study, sonographically confirmed asphericity of the head-neck junction was found in 49 cases, which was associated with further pathology and, according to the current doctrine, was attributable to the FAI and required surgical intervention. This study shows that the detection of a pathologic head and neck contour via ultrasound in combination with positive clinical signs, as present in FAI, is associated with chondrolabral lesions detected via arthro-MRI in 96.1% of cases.

[Femoroacetabular impingement in adolescents]

Femoroacetabular impingement syndrome (FAIS) is caused by a repetitive mechanical conflict between the acetabulum and the proximal femur, occurring in flexion and internal rotation. In cam impingement, bony prominences of the femoral head-neck junction induce chondrolabral damage. The acetabular type of FAIS, termed pincer FAIS, may be either due to focal or global retroversion and/or acetabular overcoverage. Combinations of cam and pincer morphology are common. Pathological femoral torsion may aggravate or decrease the mechanical conflict in FAI but can also occur in isolation. Of note, a high percentage of adolescents with FAI-like shape changes remain asymptomatic. The diagnosis of FAIS is therefore made clinically, whereas imaging reveals the underlying morphology. X‑rays in two planes remain the primary imaging modality, the exact evaluation of the osseous deformities of the femur and chondrolabral damage is assessed by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Acetabular coverage and version are primarily assessed on radiographs. Evaluation of the entire circumference of the proximal femur warrants MRI which is further used in the assessment of chondrolabral lesions, and also bone marrow and adjacent soft tissue abnormalities. The MRI protocol should routinely include measurements of femoral torsion. Fluid-sensitive sequences should be acquired to rule out degenerative or inflammatory extra-articular changes.

Borderline Dysplastic Hips Undergoing Hip Arthroscopy Achieve Equivalent Patient Reported Outcomes When Compared With Hips With Normal Acetabular Coverage: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

PURPOSE

To systematically review and meta-analyze studies reporting lateral center edge angle as it relates to patient-reported outcome (PRO) measures and clinically notable outcome assessments for patients undergoing hip arthroscopy for femoroacetabular impingement syndrome or labral pathology with borderline dysplastic hips (BDH).

METHODS

PubMed, EMBASE, and the Web of Science Core Collection databases were queried for articles evaluating lateral center edge angle as a predictor of PRO after hip arthroscopy. Articles were eligible for meta-analysis if they compared PROs measures between patients with normal acetabular coverage and borderline dysplasia and were at least level III evidence. Continuous random-effects models with standardized mean differences were used to compare postoperative Hip Outcome Score-Activities of Daily Living and sports subscales, modified Harris Hip Score, international Hip Outcome Tool scores, Satisfaction, and Visual Analog Scale Pain scores between normal coverage and borderline dysplastic groups.

RESULTS

Overall, 989 hips undergoing arthroscopy from six investigations were included in this meta-analysis, including 315 borderline dysplastic subjects (mean age 27.5 years) and 674 subjects with normal coverage (mean age 26.9 years). Borderline dysplastic and normal coverage cohorts were followed for an average of 37.0 and 36.8 months, respectively. Postoperative PRO measures (Hip Outcome Score-Activities of Daily Living, Hip Outcome Score-Sports Subscale, modified Harris Hip Score, international Hip Outcome Tool-12, Satisfaction, and Visual Analog Scale Pain) collected approximately three years after hip arthroscopy were not markedly different between subjects with BDH when compared with patients with normal coverage.

CONCLUSIONS

In a meta-analysis of the available literature, patients with BDH are able to equally reach statistically similar clinical outcomes after isolated hip arthroscopy as compared with control subjects without dysplasia at short-term follow-up. A BDH should not be considered a contraindication to hip arthroscopy when optimal PRO achievement is the goal.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Level III, Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Clinical and radiological outcomes following surgical hip dislocation for paediatric hip pathologies, a prospective cohort study

BACKGROUND

Surgical Hip Dislocation (SHD) is a powerful tool in the armamentarium of any surgeon treating conditions affecting the hips of children presenting with sequelae of a number of common conditions including Legg-CalvéPerthes disease (LCPD) and slipped capital femoral epiphysis (SCFE). Risks associated with the procedure are well described. We investigated to assess if SHD is associated with significant surgical risk and if it improved clinical outcomes for patients.

METHODS

We conducted a prospective cohort study. We reviewed 18 (11 males and 7 females; mean age 13.7 years (6-17) with symptomatic hip pathology, secondary to femoroacetabular impingement (FAI) between 2017 and 2021. All patients underwent a surgical hip dislocation approach and femoral head-neck osteochondroplasty, Head Split osteotomy or both. Clinical improvement was assessed using the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis (WOMAC) index. The minimum follow-up was 6 months (mean, 22 months; range, 6-42 months).

RESULTS

WOMAC scores improved at final follow-up from 10 to 3 for pain, 33 to 10 for function, and 4 to 2 for the stiffness subscales. All radiographic measures improved significantly of the postoperative X-rays. No patients developed osteonecrosis, implant failure, deep infection, or nonunion.

CONCLUSION

Surgical Hip Dislocation, in the short term, we found improvement in WOMAC scores and radiographic indices with a low complication rate.

Hip Arthroscopy for Femoroacetabular Impingement-Associated Labral Tears: Current Status and Future Prospects

Femoroacetabular impingement (FAI) has emerged as a common cause of hip pain, especially in young patients. While the exact cause of FAI is unknown, it is thought to result from repetitive microtrauma to the proximal femoral epiphysis leading to abnormal biomechanics. Patients typically present with groin pain that is exacerbated by hip flexion and internal rotation. Diagnosis of FAI is made through careful consideration of patient presentation as well as physical exam and diagnostic imaging. Use of radiographs can help diagnose both cam and pincer lesions, while the use of MRI can diagnose labral tears and cartilage damage associated with FAI. Both non-operative and surgical options have their role in the treatment of FAI and its associated labral tears; however, hip arthroscopy has had successful outcomes when compared with physical therapy alone. Unfortunately, chondral lesions associated with FAI have had poorer outcomes with a higher conversion rate to arthroplasty. Capsular closure following hip arthroscopy has shown superior clinical outcomes and therefore should be performed if possible. More recently, primary labral reconstruction has emerged in the literature as a good option for irreparable labral tears. While non-operative management may have its role in treating patients with FAI, hip arthroscopy has developed a successful track record in being able to treat cam and pincer lesions, chondral damage, and labral injuries.

[Femoroacetabular impingement syndrome in adolescents-How to adivse? How to treat?]

Hintergrund

Das Femoroazetabuläre Impingement-Syndrom (FAIS) ist eine relevante Ursache für Leistenschmerzen beim Jugendlichen. Insbesondere sind Sportler betroffen.

Ziel der Arbeit

Die Arbeit soll einen evidenzbasierten Hintergrund für Beratung und Therapie des FAIS beim Adoleszenten bieten.

Material und Methoden

Anhand der aktuellen Literatur wurde eine Übersicht zu Prävalenz und Pathogenese, Abklärung und Diagnostik sowie therapeutischen Empfehlung des FAIS beim Adoleszenten erarbeitet.

Ergebnisse und Diskussion

Das FAIS beim Jugendlichen betrifft vor allem sportlich aktive Patienten. Bestimmte Sportarten begünstigen die Entstehung eines FAIS. Cam-Impingement, Pincer-Impingement und kombiniertes FAIS sind die häufigsten Entitäten in dieser Altersgruppe. Die Cam-Morphologie entsteht kurz vor Schluss der proximalen Femurwachstumsfuge. Beim Cam-Impingement muss die Epiphyseolysis capitis femoris (ECF) von der primären Cam-Morphologie unterschieden werden. Die ECF verlangt eine rasche operative Versorgung mit Stabilisierung der Epiphyse, während das primäre Cam-Impingement elektiv abgeklärt werden kann und ein konservativer Behandlungsversuch sinnvoll ist. Schäden an Labrum und Knorpel werden regelhaft beobachtet. Eine systematische radiologische Abklärung mittels Projektionsröntgen und MRT ist obligat, um einen adäquaten Therapieplan zu entwickeln. Bei jugendlichen Patienten mit FAIS sollte immer ein konservativer Therapieversuch erfolgen. Ist dieser nicht erfolgreich, ist die operative Sanierung mit Hüftarthroskopie indiziert. Die postoperativen Ergebnisse zeigen bei Jugendlichen sehr gute Erfolge mit rascher Besserung der Beschwerden, geringen Komplikationen und einer hohen „Return-to-sport“-Rate.