The Economic Impact of Acetabular Labral Tears: A Cost-effectiveness Analysis Comparing Hip Arthroscopic Surgery and Structured Rehabilitation Alone in Patients Without Osteoarthritis

Utility of MRI for Patients 45 Years Old and Older With Hip or Knee Pain: A Systematic Review

BACKGROUND. MRI utility for patients 45 years old and older with hip or knee pain is not well established. OBJECTIVE. We performed this systematic review to assess whether MRI-diagnosed hip or knee pathology in patients 45 years old and older correlates with symptoms or benefits from arthroscopic surgery. EVIDENCE ACQUISITION. A literature search (PubMed, Web of Science, Embase) of articles published before October 3, 2022, was performed to identify original research pertaining to the study question. Publication information, study design, cohort size, osteoarthritis severity, age (range, mean), measured outcomes, minimum follow-up length, and MRI field strength were extracted. Study methods were appraised with NIH's study quality assessment tools. EVIDENCE SYNTHESIS. The search yielded 1125 potential studies, of which 31 met the inclusion criteria (18 knee, 13 hip). Knee studies (10 prospective, eight retrospective) included 5907 patients (age range, 45-90 years). Bone marrow edema-like lesions, joint effusions, and synovitis on MRI were associated with symptoms. In patients with osteoarthritis, meniscal tears were less likely to be symptom generators and were less likely to respond to arthroscopic surgery with osteoarthritis progression. Hip studies (11 retrospective, two prospective) included 6385 patients (age range, 50 to ≥ 85 years). Patients with Tönnis grade 2 osteoarthritis and lower with and without femoroacetabular impingement (FAI) showed improved outcomes after arthroscopy, suggesting a role for MRI in the diagnosis of labral tears, chondral lesions, and FAI. Although this group benefited from arthroscopic surgery, outcomes were inferior to those in younger patients. Variability in study characteristics, follow-up, and outcome measures precluded a meta-analysis. CONCLUSION. In patients 45 years old and older, several knee structural lesions on MRI correlated with symptoms, representing potential imaging biomarkers. Meniscal tear identification on MRI likely has diminished clinical value as osteoarthritis progresses. For the hip, MRI can play a role in the diagnosis of labral tears, chondral lesions, and FAI in patients without advanced osteoarthritis. CLINICAL IMPACT. Several structural lesions on knee MRI correlating with symptoms may represent imaging biomarkers used as treatment targets. Osteoarthritis, not age, may play the greatest role in determining the utility of MRI for patients 45 years old and older with hip or knee pain.

Variation in the Cost of Hip Arthroscopy for Labral Pathological Conditions: A Time-Driven Activity-Based Costing Analysis

BACKGROUND

Despite growing interest in delivering high-value orthopaedic care, the costs associated with hip arthroscopy remain poorly understood. By employing time-driven activity-based costing (TDABC), we aimed to characterize the cost composition of hip arthroscopy for labral pathological conditions and to identify factors that drive variation in cost.

METHODS

Using TDABC, we measured the costs of 890 outpatient hip arthroscopy procedures for labral pathological conditions across 5 surgeons at 4 surgery centers from 2015 to 2022. All patients were ≥18 years old and were treated by surgeons who each performed ≥20 surgeries during the study period. Costs were normalized to protect the confidentiality of internal hospital cost data. Descriptive analyses and multivariable linear regression were performed to identify factors underlying cost variation.

RESULTS

The study sample consisted of 515 women (57.9%) and 375 men (42.1%), with a mean age (and standard deviation) of 37.1 ± 12.7 years. Most of the procedures were performed in patients who were White (90.6%) or not Hispanic (93.4%). The normalized total cost of hip arthroscopy per procedure ranged from 43.4 to 203.7 (mean, 100 ± 24.2). Of the 3 phases of the care cycle, the intraoperative phase was identified as the largest generator of cost (>90%). On average, supply costs accounted for 48.8% of total costs, whereas labor costs accounted for 51.2%. A 2.5-fold variation between the 10th and 90th percentiles for total cost was attributed to supplies, which was greater than the 1.8-fold variation attributed to labor. Variation in total costs was most effectively explained by the labral management method (partial R2 = 0.332), operating surgeon (partial R2 = 0.326), osteoplasty type (partial R2 = 0.087), and surgery center (partial R2 = 0.086). Male gender (p < 0.001) and younger age (p = 0.032) were also associated with significantly increased costs. Finally, data trends revealed a shift toward labral preservation techniques over debridement during the study period (with the rate of such techniques increasing from 77.8% to 93.2%; Ptrend = 0.0039) and a strong correlation between later operative year and increased supply costs, labor costs, and operative time (p < 0.001 for each).

CONCLUSIONS

By applying TDABC to outpatient hip arthroscopy, we identified wide patient-to-patient cost variation that was most effectively explained by the method of labral management, the operating surgeon, the osteoplasty type, and the surgery center. Given current procedural coding trends, declining reimbursements, and rising health-care costs, these insights may enable stakeholders to design bundled payment structures that better align reimbursements with costs.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Economic and Decision Analysis Level IV. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.

The burden of Chronic Pelvic Pain (CPP): Costs and quality of life of women and men with CPP treated in outpatient referral centers

INTRODUCTION

Chronic Pelvic Pain (CPP) is a complex, multifaceted condition that affects both women and men. There is limited literature on the cost utilization the healthcare system and CPP patients incur. The purpose of this analysis is to characterize the overall healthcare utilization, cost burden, and quality-of-life restrictions experienced by CPP patients using data from an outpatient pelvic rehabilitation practice.

METHODS

Healthcare utilization data was gathered by systematically reviewing and analyzing data from new patient visit progress notes stored in the clinic's electronic health records (EHR). We obtained in-network costs by using the FAIR Health Consumer online database. Overall costs were then calculated as the utilization times the per-unit costs from the FAIR database. Additionally, data on patients' visual analogue scale (VAS), absenteeism, presenteeism emergency room visits, usage of common pain medications, use of diagnostics, and participation in common treatment modalities was gathered.

RESULTS

Data from 607 patients was used. The overall cost burden per patient for all surgeries combined was $15,750 for in-network services. The cost burden for diagnostics was $5,264.22 and treatments was $8,937 per patient for in-network treatments.

CONCLUSION

Chronic Pelvic Pain was found to have a large cost burden of $29,951 for in-network services which includes treatments, diagnostics, and surgeries. This analysis sets the stage for future investigations involving data on costs of medications that patients have tried prior to presenting to us and costs associated with work hours lost.

Outcome measures in total hip arthroplasty: have our metrics changed over 15 years?

INTRODUCTION

Consensus has not been reached regarding ideal outcome measures for total hip arthroplasty (THA) clinical evaluation and research. The goal of this review was to analyze the trends in outcome metrics within the THA literature and to discuss the potential impact of instrument heterogeneity on clinical practice.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A PubMed search of all manuscripts related to THA from January 2005 to December 2019 was performed. Statistical and linear regression analyses were performed for individual outcome metrics as a proportion of total THA publications over time.

RESULTS

There was a statistically significant increase in studies utilizing outcomes metrics between 2005 and 2019 (15.1-29.5%; P < 0.001; R² = 98.1%). Within the joint-specific subcategory, use of the Harris Hip Score (HHS) significantly decreased from 2005 to 2019 (82.8-57.3%; P < 0.001), use of the Hip Disability and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (HOOS) significantly increased (0-6.7%; P < 0.001), and the modified HHS significantly increased (0-10.5%; P < 0.001). In the quality of life subcategory, EQ-5D demonstrated a significant increase in usage (0-34.8%; P < 0.001), while Short Form-36 significantly decreased (100% vs. 27.3%; P = 0.008).

CONCLUSIONS

The utilization of outcome-reporting metrics in THA has continued to increase, resulting in added complexity within the literature. The utilization rates of individual instruments have shifted over the past 15 years. Additional study is required to determine which specific instruments are recommended.

The cost-effectiveness of outpatient surgery for primary total hip arthroplasty in the United States: a computer-based cost-utility study

PURPOSE

The purpose of this study was to perform a cost-effectiveness analysis of outpatient versus inpatient total hip arthroplasty (THA) in the USA, considering complication probability and the potential cost of such complications.

METHODS

A cost-effectiveness analysis was conducted from the societal perspective to evaluate the incremental cost and effectiveness of inpatient THA compared to outpatient THA over a lifetime horizon. Effectiveness was expressed in quality-adjusted life years (QALYs). Costs, expressed in 2019 US dollars, transition probabilities, and health utilities were derived from the literature. The primary outcome was the incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER), with a willingness to pay (WTP) threshold set at $50,000/QALY. 1-way and probabilistic sensitivity analyses was performed to evaluate the effect of the various variables on the model.

RESULTS

In the base case, inpatient THA was more effective in terms of total utility (10.36 vs. 10.30 QALY), but also more costly ($48,155 ± 1673 vs. $43,288 ± 1, 606 for Medicare) than outpatient THA. Even with a lifetime horizon, the ICER was $81,116 per QALY and $140,917 per QALY for Medicare and private payer insurance, respectively, which is higher than the willingness to pay threshold. 1-way sensitivity analyses indicated that the variables having the most influence on the model were the utility of inpatient and outpatient THA and cost of inpatient and outpatient THA.

CONCLUSIONS

This model determined that for a WTP threshold set at $50,000/QALY, outpatient THA is more cost-effective than inpatient THA from a societal perspective. Despite this, surgeons must weigh clinical factors first and foremost in determining if an individual patient can be safely operated on in the outpatient setting.

Cost-Effectiveness of Hip Arthroscopy for Treatment of Femoroacetabular Impingement Syndrome and Labral Tears: A Systematic Review

Background:

Hip arthroscopy has frequently been shown to produce successful outcomes as a treatment for femoroacetabular impingement (FAI) and labral tears. However, there is less literature on whether the favorable results of hip arthroscopy can justify the costs, especially when compared with a nonoperative treatment.

Purpose:

To systematically review the cost-effectiveness of hip arthroscopy for treating FAI and labral tears.

Study Design:

Systematic review; Level of evidence, 3.

Methods:

PubMed/MEDLINE, Embase, and Cochrane Library databases, and the Tufts University Cost-Effectiveness Analysis Registry were searched to identify articles that reported the cost per quality-adjusted life-year (QALY) generated by hip arthroscopy. The key terms used were “hip arthroscopy,” “cost,” “utility,” and “economic evaluation.” The threshold for cost-effectiveness was set at $50,000/QALY. The Methodological Index for Non-Randomized Studies instrument and Quality of Health Economic Studies (QHES) score were used to determine the quality of the studies. This study was prospectively registered on PROSPERO (CRD42020172991).

Results:

Six studies that reported the cost-effectiveness of hip arthroscopy were identified, and 5 of these studies compared hip arthroscopy to a nonoperative comparator. These studies were found to have a mean QHES score of 85.2 and a mean cohort age that ranged from 33-37 years. From both a health care system perspective and a societal perspective, 4 studies reported that hip arthroscopy was more costly but resulted in far greater gains than did nonoperative treatment. The preferred treatment strategy was most sensitive to duration of benefit, preoperative osteoarthritis, cost of the arthroscopy, and the improvement in QALYs with hip arthroscopy.

Conclusion:

In the majority of the studies, hip arthroscopy had a higher initial cost but provided greater gain in QALYs than did a nonoperative treatment. In certain cases, hip arthroscopy can be cost-effective given a long enough duration of benefit and appropriate patient selection. However, there is further need for literature to analyze willingness-to-pay thresholds.

Incidence of Hip Dysplasia Diagnosis in Young Patients With Hip Pain: A Geographic Population Cohort Analysis

Background

Hip dysplasia is a common source of hip pain and a known cause of early osteoarthritis of the hip.

Purpose

To (1) define the population-based incidence of hip dysplasia diagnosis in young patients presenting with hip pain in a large geographically defined cohort, (2) analyze trends regarding presentation and diagnosis of hip dysplasia, and (3) report the rate and type of surgical interventions used to treat this population.

Study Design

Cross-sectional study; Level of evidence, 3.

Methods

A geographic epidemiological database was queried to identify patients aged 14 to 50 years with hip pain between the years 2000 and 2016. Patient medical records were analyzed, and demographic, imaging, clinical, and treatment history were recorded. Incidence trends were examined by use of linear regression with confidence intervals for age and calendar year.

Results

Overall, 1893 patients were included. Of these, 156 patients (196 hips) had a diagnosis of hip dysplasia. The incidence of hip dysplasia diagnosis in patients who reported hip pain was 12.7 per 100,000 person-years. Patients with dysplasia had a mean age of 26.7 ± 9.8 years, while the highest age-adjusted incidence occurred at age 14 to 18 years in both male and female patients. Female patients had double the age-adjusted incidence of male patients (cases per 100,000 person-years: 16.8 [95% CI, 13.9-19.7] vs 8.7 [95% CI, 6.6-10.8]; P < .01). Of the patients who underwent magnetic resonance imaging, 77% had imaging consistent with labral pathology. Patients were treated with physical therapy (67%), intra-articular steroid injection (29%), hip arthroscopy (10%), and periacetabular osteotomy (9%). The use of hip arthroscopy significantly increased over time (P < .01), whereas the use of steroid injection and periacetabular osteotomy did not (P < .28 and P < .08, respectively).

Conclusion

The incidence of hip dysplasia diagnosis in patients presenting with hip pain was 12.7 per 100,000 person-years. Female patients had twice the age-adjusted incidence of male patients, and the highest age-adjusted incidence occurred in the age range of 14 to 18 years in both sexes. The use of hip arthroscopy to treat patients with hip dysplasia significantly increased over time.

Determining Reliability of Arthroscopic Classifications for Hip Labral Tears

OBJECTIVE

Evaluate interobserver and intraobserver reliability of hip arthroscopic classifications for labral tears.

DESIGN

Retrospective diagnostic study of nonconsecutive patients.

SETTING

Institutional study.

PATIENTS

From a database of 278 hip arthroscopy videos for treatment of femoroacetabular impingement, 70 videos were chosen by simple random sampling. Exclusion criteria included presence of radiological arthrosis (Tonnis > 2), previous hip surgery, inadequate lesion palpation, poor image quality, and refusal to participate in the study. The final sample included 60 videos.

INTERVENTIONS

Four hip surgeons evaluated the videos twice at 1-month intervals and classified the lesions according to Lage, Seldes, and Beck classifications for hip labral tears.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Interobserver and intraobserver reliability with the percent of agreement and weighted Cohen kappa values.

RESULTS

Patients had a mean age of 33 years (SD, 7; range, 18-47 years), and 32 (53%) were men. Femoroacetabular impingement types included combined (CAM and pincer) in 31 (52%), CAM in 27 (45%), and pincer in 2 (3%). For interobserver reliability, the average weighted kappa values were 0.68, 0.65, and 0.78 for the Lage, Seldes, and Beck classifications, respectively. For intraobserver reliability, the mean weighted kappa values were 0.87, 0.64, and 0.93 for the Lage, Seldes, and Beck classifications, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

Beck classification had the highest average values for interobserver and intraobserver agreements. Lage, Seldes, and Beck scores for acetabular labrum tears showed substantial interobserver agreement. In the intraobserver evaluation, the Seldes system presented substantial agreement, whereas Lage and Beck classifications were considered excellent agreement.

Immediate Versus Delayed Hip Arthroscopy for Femoroacetabular Impingement: An Expected Value Decision Analysis

INTRODUCTION

Hip arthroscopy is an increasingly used surgical procedure for both intra- and extra-articular hip pathologies, including femoroacetabular impingement (FAI). Although the arthroscopic approach is known to be preferable to open, the optimal timing of such intervention is unclear. The purpose of this study was to carry out an expected value decision analysis of immediate versus delayed hip arthroscopy for FAI. Its hypothesis is immediate hip arthroscopy is the preferable treatment option.

METHODS

An expected value decision analysis was implemented to systematize the decision-making process between immediate and delayed hip arthroscopies. A decision tree was created with options for immediate and delayed surgeries with utilities characterizing each state obtained from surveying 70 patients. Fold-back analysis was then carried out, calculating expected values by multiplying the utility of each health outcome by the probability of that outcome. Corresponding expected values were then summed to "fold back" the decision tree one layer at a time. This was repeated until overall expected values (0 to 100) for immediate and delayed hip arthroscopies resulted with the higher value indicating the preferable option.

RESULTS

Fold-back analysis demonstrated that immediate hip arthroscopy is the preferred treatment for FAI over delayed with expected values of 78.27 and 72.63, respectively. Restoration of good function after hip arthroscopy was the most notable contributor to this difference. Immediate hip arthroscopy remained superior even as vast adjustments to preoperative physical function were made in one-way sensitivity analysis. Complications of hip arthroscopy leading to total hip arthroplasty were the least notable contributors to overall expected values.

DISCUSSION

This study confirms that immediate surgery is the preferred option when using decision-making analysis combining patient-reported utilities of health outcomes and the probabilities of those outcomes from the literature. This is consistent across a range of estimates of poor function in both the delayed and immediate surgery arms.

How Are We Measuring Cost-Effectiveness in Total Joint Arthroplasty Studies? Systematic Review of the Literature

BACKGROUND

As volumes of total hip arthroplasty (THA) and total knee arthroplasty (TKA) continue to rise, it is important to understand their economic impact. No systematic review on cost-effectiveness of THA/TKA has been performed since 2016 despite recent changes in the healthcare environment. The purpose of the study is to provide a contemporary analysis of the cost-effectiveness of total joint arthroplasty and the use of quality-adjusted life years (QALYs).

METHODS

A systematic review was performed from 2005 to 2020. Online databases (OVID Medline, PubMed, Cost-Effectiveness Analysis Registry, Google Scholar, Elton B. Stephens Co) were queried to identify economic analyses that evaluated the cost-effectiveness of THA/TKA.

RESULTS

In total, 38 studies met the screening criteria. Study designs were primarily Markov models (68%), cohort studies (16%), and randomized trials (8%). Most studies adopted either a societal perspective (45%) or a health system perspective (39%). Analysis revealed that THA/TKA was strongly cost-effective compared to nonsurgical treatment. THA/TKA procedures that were not delayed were more cost-effective than delayed intervention. The majority of studies used QALYs as the primary quality metric (82%); in all these studies there was a significant improvement in QALYs gained.

CONCLUSION

Given the high economic impact of arthroplasty, ongoing assessment of cost-effectiveness is needed. Twenty-four percent of studies included in this systematic review were published in the last 4 years of this 15-year study period, highlighting the need for continuous assessment of aggregate data. Future studies should incorporate the cost-effectiveness of THA and TKA with respect to the work-value provided by surgeon providers to support health policy and reimbursement.

Evidence-based Risk Stratification for Sport Medicine Procedures During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Orthopaedic practices have been markedly affected by the emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite the ban on elective procedures, it is impossible to define the medical urgency of a case solely on whether a case is on an elective surgery schedule. Orthopaedic surgical procedures should consider COVID-19-associated risks and an assimilation of all available disease dependent, disease independent, and logistical information that is tailored to each patient, institution, and region. Using an evidence-based risk stratification of clinical urgency, we provide a framework for prioritization of orthopaedic sport medicine procedures that encompasses such factors. This can be used to facilitate the risk-benefit assessment of the timing and setting of a procedure during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Periacetabular osteotomy with or without arthroscopic management in patients with hip dysplasia: study protocol for a multicenter randomized controlled trial

Background

Hip dysplasia is one of the most common causes of hip arthritis. Its incidence is estimated to be between 3.6 and 12.8% (Canadian Institute for Health Information, Hip and knee replacements in Canada, 2017–2018: Canadian joint replacement registry annual report, 2019; Jacobsen and Sonne-Holm, Rheumatology 44:211–8, 2004). The Periacetabular Osteotomy (PAO) has been used successfully for over 30 years (Gosvig et al., J Bone Joint Surg Am 92:1162–9, 2010), but some patients continue to exhibit symptoms post-surgery (Wyles et al., Clin Orthop Relat Res 475:336–50, 2017). A hip arthroscopy, performed using a small camera, allows surgeons to address torn cartilage inside the hip joint. Although both procedures are considered standard of care treatment options, it is unknown whether the addition of hip arthroscopy improves patient outcomes compared to a PAO alone. To delay or prevent future joint replacement surgeries, joint preservation surgery is recommended for eligible patients. While previous studies found an added cost to perform hip arthroscopies, the cost-effectiveness to Canadian Health care system is not known.

Methods

Patients randomized to the experimental group will undergo central compartment hip arthroscopy prior to completion of the PAO. Patients randomized to the control group will undergo isolated PAO. Patient-reported quality of life will be the primary outcome used for comparison between the two treatment groups as measured by The International Hip Outcome Tool (iHOT-33) (Saberi Hosnijeh et al., Arthritis Rheum 69:86–93, 2017). Secondary outcomes will include the four-square step test and sit-to-stand (validated in patients with pre-arthritic hip pain) and hip-specific symptoms and impairment using the HOOS; global health assessment will be compared using the PROMIS Global 10 Score; health status will be assessed using the EQ-5D-5L and EQ VAS questionnaires (Ganz et al., Clin Orthop Relat Res 466:264–72, 2008) pre- and post-operatively. In addition, operative time, hospital length of stay, adverse events, and health services utilization will be collected. A sub-group of patients (26 in each group) will receive a T1rho MRI before and after surgery to study changes in cartilage quality over time. A cost-utility analysis will be performed to compare costs and quality-adjusted life years (QALYs) associated with the intervention.

Discussion

We hypothesize that (1) concomitant hip arthroscopy at the time of PAO to address central compartment pathology will result in clinically important improvements in patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) versus PAO alone, that (2) additional costs associated with hip arthroscopy will be offset by greater clinical improvements in this group, and that (3) combined hip arthroscopy and PAO will prove to be a cost-effective procedure.

Trial registration

ClinicalTrials.gov NCT03481010. Registered on 6 March 2020. Protocol version: version 3.

Exploring the Impact of Quality of Life on Survival: A Case Study in Total Knee Replacement Surgery

Background. There is growing evidence that quality of life (QoL) has a strong association with mortality. However, incorporation of QoL is uncommon in standard survival modeling. Methods. Using data extracted from a registry of patients undergoing total knee replacement (TKR), the impact of incorporating QoL in survival modeling was explored using 4 parametric survival models. QoL was incorporated and tested in 2 forms, which are baseline and change in QoL due to intervention. Life expectancy and quality-adjusted life years (QALYs) were calculated and comparisons made to a reference model (no QoL) to translate the findings in the context of modeled economic evaluations. Results. A total of 2858 TKR cases (2309 patients) who had TKR between 2006 and 2015 were included in this analysis. Increases in baseline and change in QoL were associated with a reduction in mortality. Compared to the reference model, differences of up to 0.32 life years and 0.53 QALYs were observed, and these translated into a 9.5% change in incremental effectiveness. These differences were much larger as the strength of the association between QoL and mortality increased. Conclusions. This work has demonstrated that the inclusion of QoL measures (at baseline and change from baseline) when extrapolating survival does matter. It can influence health outcomes such as life expectancy and QALYs, which are relevant in cost-effectiveness analysis. This is important because neglecting the correlation between QoL and mortality can lead to imprecise extrapolations and thus risk misleading results affecting subsequent decisions made by policy makers.

Consensus recommendations on the classification, definition and diagnostic criteria of hip-related pain in young and middle-aged active adults from the International Hip-related Pain Research Network, Zurich 2018

There is no agreement on how to classify, define or diagnose hip-related pain-a common cause of hip and groin pain in young and middle-aged active adults. This complicates the work of clinicians and researchers. The International Hip-related Pain Research Network consensus group met in November 2018 in Zurich aiming to make recommendations on how to classify, define and diagnose hip disease in young and middle-aged active adults with hip-related pain as the main symptom. Prior to the meeting we performed a scoping review of electronic databases in June 2018 to determine the definition, epidemiology and diagnosis of hip conditions in young and middle-aged active adults presenting with hip-related pain. We developed and presented evidence-based statements for these to a panel of 37 experts for discussion and consensus agreement. Both non-musculoskeletal and serious hip pathological conditions (eg, tumours, infections, stress fractures, slipped capital femoral epiphysis), as well as competing musculoskeletal conditions (eg, lumbar spine) should be excluded when diagnosing hip-related pain in young and middle-aged active adults. The most common hip conditions in young and middle-aged active adults presenting with hip-related pain are: (1) femoroacetabular impingement (FAI) syndrome, (2) acetabular dysplasia and/or hip instability and (3) other conditions without a distinct osseous morphology (labral, chondral and/or ligamentum teres conditions), and that these terms are used in research and clinical practice. Clinical examination and diagnostic imaging have limited diagnostic utility; a comprehensive approach is therefore essential. A negative flexion-adduction-internal rotation test helps rule out hip-related pain although its clinical utility is limited. Anteroposterior pelvis and lateral femoral head-neck radiographs are the initial diagnostic imaging of choice-advanced imaging should be performed only when requiring additional detail of bony or soft-tissue morphology (eg, for definitive diagnosis, research setting or when planning surgery). We recommend clear, detailed and consistent methodology of bony morphology outcome measures (definition, measurement and statistical reporting) in research. Future research on conditions with hip-related pain as the main symptom should include high-quality prospective studies on aetiology and prognosis. The most common hip conditions in active adults presenting with hip-related pain are: (1) FAI syndrome, (2) acetabular dysplasia and/or hip instability and (3) other conditions without distinct osseous morphology including labral, chondral and/or ligamentum teres conditions. The last category should not be confused with the incidental imaging findings of labral, chondral and/or ligamentum teres pathology in asymptomatic people. Future research should refine our current recommendations by determining the clinical utility of clinical examination and diagnostic imaging in prospective studies.

Nonoperative Management of Hip Labral Tears Yields Similar Total Hip Arthroplasty Conversion Rate to Arthroscopic Treatment

BACKGROUND

Arthroscopic treatment of hip labral tears has increased significantly in recent years. There is limited evidence comparing nonoperative management to arthroscopic treatment. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the progression to total hip arthroplasty (THA), as well as the cost associated with arthroscopic management of labral tears compared to nonoperative treatment.

METHODS

The Humana claims database was queried from 2007 through 2016. International Classification of Diseases and Current Procedural Terminology codes were used to identify patients with hip labral tears and hip arthroscopy and THA procedures. Two cohorts were created: a nonoperative group and an operative group. Following propensity score matching, the rate of conversion and time to THA conversion were calculated. Cost was calculated using the total cost reimbursed for encounters within 6 months. Continuous variables were analyzed using Student t-test and Mann-Whitney test, and categorical variables were analyzed using chi-square test.

RESULTS

After propensity matching, 864 patients were included in the analysis. The conversion rate to THA in the operative group (6.7%) and the nonoperative group (5.3%) was not statistically different (P = .391). The operative group had a longer time to THA (21.5 ± 16.8 months) than the nonoperative group (15.9 ± 19.5 months; P = .044). The cost for the operative group was significantly higher ($14,266.55 ± $7187.96) compared to the nonoperative group ($2941.96 ± $2664.00; P < .001).

CONCLUSION

This study did not find a difference in the rate of conversion to THA for operative vs nonoperative groups. Time to THA in the operative group was longer, however, at the expense of higher costs.

The Warwick Agreement on femoroacetabular impingement syndrome (FAI syndrome): an international consensus statement

The 2016 Warwick Agreement on femoroacetabular impingement (FAI) syndrome was convened to build an international, multidisciplinary consensus on the diagnosis and management of patients with FAI syndrome. 22 panel members and 1 patient from 9 countries and 5 different specialties participated in a 1-day consensus meeting on 29 June 2016. Prior to the meeting, 6 questions were agreed on, and recent relevant systematic reviews and seminal literature were circulated. Panel members gave presentations on the topics of the agreed questions at Sports Hip 2016, an open meeting held in the UK on 27-29 June. Presentations were followed by open discussion. At the 1-day consensus meeting, panel members developed statements in response to each question through open discussion; members then scored their level of agreement with each response on a scale of 0-10. Substantial agreement (range 9.5-10) was reached for each of the 6 consensus questions, and the associated terminology was agreed on. The term 'femoroacetabular impingement syndrome' was introduced to reflect the central role of patients' symptoms in the disorder. To reach a diagnosis, patients should have appropriate symptoms, positive clinical signs and imaging findings. Suitable treatments are conservative care, rehabilitation, and arthroscopic or open surgery. Current understanding of prognosis and topics for future research were discussed. The 2016 Warwick Agreement on FAI syndrome is an international multidisciplinary agreement on the diagnosis, treatment principles and key terminology relating to FAI syndrome.Author note The Warwick Agreement on femoroacetabular impingement syndrome has been endorsed by the following 25 clinical societies: American Medical Society for Sports Medicine (AMSSM), Association of Chartered Physiotherapists in Sports and Exercise Medicine (ACPSEM), Australasian College of Sports and Exercise Physicians (ACSEP), Austian Sports Physiotherapists, British Association of Sports and Exercise Medicine (BASEM), British Association of Sport Rehabilitators and Trainers (BASRaT), Canadian Academy of Sport and Exercise Medicine (CASEM), Danish Society of Sports Physical Therapy (DSSF), European College of Sports and Exercise Physicians (ECOSEP), European Society of Sports Traumatology, Knee Surgery and Arthroscopy (ESSKA), Finnish Sports Physiotherapist Association (SUFT), German-Austrian-Swiss Society for Orthopaedic Traumatologic Sports Medicine (GOTS), International Federation of Sports Physical Therapy (IFSPT), International Society for Hip Arthroscopy (ISHA), Groupo di Interesse Specialistico dell'A.I.F.I., Norwegian Association of Sports Medicine and Physical Activity (NIMF), Norwegian Sports Physiotherapy Association (FFI), Society of Sports Therapists (SST), South African Sports Medicine Association (SASMA), Sports Medicine Australia (SMA), Sports Doctors Australia (SDrA), Sports Physiotherapy New Zealand (SPNZ), Swedish Society of Exercise and Sports Medicine (SFAIM), Swiss Society of Sports Medicine (SGMS/SGSM), Swiss Sports Physiotherapy Association (SSPA).