Arthroscopy of the Hip, The Snapping Hip: Surgical Management Pearls

The effect of iliotibial band surgery at the hip: a systematic review

BACKGROUND

Current literature presents a variety of surgical interventions aimed at modifying the iliotibial band (ITB) at the hip to relieve lateral hip pain (LHP). However, a focus towards the hip abductors as a main driver in LHP has evolved in the last decade, which could influence the indications for isolated ITB surgery. No previous review has been undertaken to evaluate isolated ITB surgery in LHP cases.

PURPOSE

The purpose of this systematic review was to evaluate isolated ITB surgery in LHP patients in relation to pain, snapping, use of non-surgical treatments postoperatively, and repeated surgery.

METHODS

The study was reported in accordance with Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses. The study was registered in Prospero (CRD42021216707) prior to initiation. A systematic search of literature on PubMed and Embase as well as bibliography screening on adult patients undergoing isolated ITB surgery with or without additional bursectomies was performed. Due to the lack of reliable data, no meta-analysis was performed.

RESULTS

A total of 21 studies (360 patients) were considered eligible for inclusion. The snapping and non-snapping group consisted of 150 and 210 patients, respectively. The mean follow-up time in the snapping group was 30 months and 19 months in the non-snapping group. Utilizing different surgical techniques, complete pain relief was not achieved in 12% of patients in the snapping group and 36% of the patients in the non-snapping group. In the snapping group, snapping was eliminated in 95% of patients, and five of 150 patients (3%) had repeated surgery. Eight of nine non-snapping studies reported information regarding repeated surgery, in which seven of 205 patients (3%) received repeated surgery.

CONCLUSION

ITB surgery at the hip remains widely adopted, although only level 4 studies are available, and little information exists on the long-term clinical, as well as patient reported outcomes. Based on the available data, we found indication of a positive short-term outcome in LHP with snapping regarding elimination of snapping, pain reduction, reuse of non-surgical treatment, and repeated surgery. In LHP with no snapping, we found limited evidence supporting ITB surgery based on current literature.

Endoscopic treatment of iliopsoas impingement after total hip arthroplasty: a minimum 2-year follow-up and comparison of tenotomy performed at the acetabular rim versus lesser trochanter

Iliopsoas impingement is an underdiagnosed cause of groin pain after total hip arthroplasty (THA), being responsible for 4.4% of cases. Non-surgical treatment may be effective in ∼50% of cases. Endoscopic surgery has gained popularity as an option for non-responsive patients because of its non-invasive characteristics, faster recovery and encouraging results. This study compares two different sites of endoscopic psoas tenotomy performed following THA: at the edge of the acetabulum (AR) versus at the lesser trochanter (LT). This is a retrospective review of prospectively collected data from a single-surgeon case series. Thirty-five iliopsoas tenotomy cases which had >24-month follow-up were identified. There were 21 tenotomies at the lesser trochanter. Demographic data, preop and postop pain, mHHS and NAHS scores, strength and patient satisfaction data were collected and analysed. Average age at the time of surgery was 62. Mean follow-up for the LT group was 49.11 months and 42.42 months for the AR group. Pain decreased significantly for both groups (P < 0.001). Both mHHS and NAHS showed superiority in the LT group, but this difference did not reach significance (P = 0.06). LT patients showed better strength with 71.42% of them having normal strength at latest follow-up, compared with 41.6% in the AR group. There were no complications in either group. Endoscopic tenotomy is a safe and reliable surgical option, giving significant pain relief and good functional outcomes. Tenotomy at the level of the lesser trochanter might be preferable since it shows better outcomes. Larger studies are necessary to achieve statistically significant results.

Arthroscopic techniques for treating ilio-psoas tendinopathy after hip arthroplasty

Impingement of hip arthroplasty components on soft tissues may adversely affect outcomes. An example is impingement of the cup on the ilio-psoas tendon, which has been reported in 0.4% to 8.3% of patients. Contributors to ilio-psoas tendon impingement (IPTI) can be categorised as anatomic (hypoplastic anterior wall), technical (inadequate anteversion and/or lower inclination, oversized cup, cement in contact with the tendon, and intra-muscular screw), and prosthetic (e.g., aggressive cup design, large-diameter head, resurfacing, and collared femoral prosthesis). IPTI manifests as groin pain, raising diagnostic challenges since this symptom lacks specificity. Physical findings of value for the diagnosis include pain exacerbation during active hip flexion, groin pain upon straight-leg raise to 30°, and/or snapping hip syndrome. Confirmation is then provided by ultrasonography and, most importantly, computed tomography. Once the diagnosis is confirmed, non-operative treatment combining physical therapy and local corticosteroid injections is prescribed. When these measures fail, endoscopic or arthroscopic surgery is generally effective. In patients with major cup malposition, revision of the cup is the preferred option, despite the higher complication rate. When cup position is adequate, ilio-psoas tenotomy can be performed either extra-articularly at the lesser trochanter (by endoscopy) or intra-articularly (by arthroscopy). The arthroscopic technique is more demanding but useful when the diagnosis is in doubt, as it allows examination of the prosthetic bearing surfaces. Both techniques and the risks inherent in each are discussed in detail. Tenotomy, whether performed endoscopically or arthroscopically, promptly provides good outcomes in over 85% of patients, usually with full recovery of hip flexor strength over time. These minimally invasive techniques, while as effective as conventional surgery, are associated with lower morbidity rates.