Investigation of Pain in Hip Disease Patients before and after Arthroplasty

The Extent of Pain Is Associated With Signs of Central Sensitization in Patients With Hip Osteoarthritis

BACKGROUND

Central sensitization may be present in some patients with hip osteoarthritis (OA), often reflected as widespread pain. We examine the association between pain extent with signs of central sensitization and other clinical and psychological features in patients with hip OA.

METHODS

Thirty patients with hip OA were recruited for this cross-sectional observational study. Participants completed pain drawings on a digital tablet, which displayed frontal and dorsal views of the body. The pain extent (%) for each participant was determined by combining the frontal and dorsal pixels shaded and dividing by the total pixels of the body chart area. Participants completed patient-reported outcome measures to assess for signs and symptoms of central sensitization and psychosocial factors. Quantitative sensory testing including pain pressure thresholds (PPTs) and thermal pressure thresholds was performed at points anatomically local and distant from the hip.

RESULTS

Women had significantly greater pain extent (6.71%) than men (2.65%) (z = -2.76, P < 0.01). Across all participants, increased pain extent was significantly associated with higher scores on the Widespread Pain Index (r₂  = 0.426, P < 0.05), painDETECT questionnaire (r₂  = 0.394, P < 0.05), and Pain Catastrophizing Scale (r₂  = 0.413, P < 0.05), and with lower PPTs at the thenar eminence (r₂  = -0.410, P < 0.05), vastus lateralis (r₂  = -0.530, P < 0.01), vastus medialis (r₂  = 0.363, P < 0.05), and greater trochanter (r₂  = -0.373, P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Greater pain extent was associated with several measures of signs and symptoms of central sensitization in patients with hip OA. These results support the utility of the pain drawing for identifying signs of central sensitization in patients with hip OA.

Don't forget the hip! Hip arthritis masquerading as knee pain

Background

Hip osteoarthritis typically manifests with groin or thigh pain. Other atypical pain patterns, including knee pain, have been described. Except for 2 case reports, there is no literature on this subject.

Methods

From our institutional database, between 2011 and 2016, we identified 21 patients who were referred for treatment of knee pain but ultimately diagnosed with hip pathology as the cause of their pain. This group was evaluated for duration of symptoms prior to diagnosis, previous interventions, presence of walking aids, and symptom resolution after treatment of the hip pathology.

Results

Fifteen of the 21 patients were referred from musculoskeletal providers (12 from orthopaedic surgeons). Prior to diagnosis of the hip etiology, 16 patients were reduced to major assistive devices including wheelchairs. Twelve of 21 patients had undergone surgical knee interventions, including total knee arthroplasty, with minimal to no relief of their pain. Seventeen of 21 referred patients underwent total hip arthroplasty at our institution. Fourteen patients had complete resolution of knee pain after total hip arthroplasty.

Conclusions

Although knee pain referred from hip disease may be considered a basic and common knowledge, it continues to be an overlooked phenomenon. Most of the cases were misdiagnosed by musculoskeletal providers including orthopaedic surgeons and this highlights the need for continued education and awareness of this clinical scenario.

Pain distribution in primary care patients with hip osteoarthritis

BACKGROUND

Hip osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common diagnosis in primary care adult patients presenting with hip pain but pain location and pain distribution in primary care patients with hip OA have been reported inadequately.

OBJECTIVE

To describe pain location and pain distribution in primary care patients with clinical and radiographic confirmed hip OA.

METHODS

Primary care patients with unilateral clinical and radiographic hip OA living on the island of Funen, Denmark were recruited from primary care to participate in a randomized clinical trial. At baseline, patients recorded pain intensity using an 11-box numeric rating scale and the distribution of hip pain using a manikin displaying three separate views: front, back and lateral. Pain drawings were analysed using a template to determine the most frequent pain locations and distribution of pain.

RESULTS

Pain drawings were completed by 109 patients of which 108 (99%) were valid. The mean age of patients was 65 (SD 9) years and 44% were females. The mean pain intensity was 5.4 (SD 2.0). A total of 77% had marked the greater trochanter area, 53% the groin area, 42% the anterior/lateral thigh area, 38% the buttock area, 17% the knee and 15% the lower leg area. No patients marked pain exclusively in the areas of the knee, posterior thigh or lower leg.

CONCLUSION

The most common pain locations of patients with hip OA presenting to primary care are the greater trochanter, groin, thigh and buttock areas. No patients recorded pain exclusively in the knee or lower leg.

A clinical comparative study of anatomic parameters before and after total hip replacement on congenital dysplasia

[Purpose] To study preoperative and postoperative hip circumference data of various types of congenital dysplasia of the hip treated with total hip replacement, including the femoral offset, femoral neck length, height, and hip abductor arm parameters. [Subjects and Methods] This study included seventy-eight cases of congenital dysplasia of the hip (I–III type). Furthermore, four parameters were measured, including the preoperative and postoperative femoral offset. Statistical data analysis was performed using the SPSS 13.0 software. [Results] The femoral offset was 33.3 ± 8.4 mm (preoperative) and 39.1 ± 7.1 mm (postoperative). The femoral head height was 59.5 ± 8.7 mm (preoperative) and 68.8 ± 11.0 mm (postoperative). The femoral neck length was 50.8 ± 10.8 mm (preoperative) and 61.5 ± 10.4 mm (postoperative). The hip abductor arm was 54.3 ± 9.6 mm (preoperative) 64.7 ± 10.1 mm (postoperative). The preoperative and postoperative parameters showed statistical differences. Furthermore, no significant differences were evidenced when comparing the postoperative hip parameters with the normal data parameters. [Conclusion] Total hip replacement on congenital dysplasia of the hip could lead to the rebuilt of an almost normal physiological anatomy for each hip case (type I–III).

Investigation and macroscopic anatomical study of referred pain in patients with hip disease

[Purpose] The aim of this study was to examine the incidence and patterns of referred pain in patients with hip disease, as well as the nerve distribution in the hip and knee joints of 2 cadavers. [Subjects and Methods] A total of 113 patients with hip joint disease were included in the investigation. The incidence of regional pain and referred pain patterns were evaluated before and after arthroplasty. Two cadavers were macroscopically observed to verify the nerve innervation of the hip and knee joints. [Results] Anterior knee pain was observed preoperatively in 13.3% (in resting) and 33.6% (in motion) of the patients, which was comparable with the incidence of greater trochanter pain. In addition, the preoperative incidence rates of knee pain in resting and motion markedly decreased postoperatively. Of note is the remarkable incidence of pain radiating to the ventral lower limb. An anteromedial innervation was determined in the cadavers by the articular branches of the obturator and femoral nerve, which supply small branches to the knee joints. [Conclusion] Our results suggest that the distribution of the incidence of pain among the patients with hip disease is diverse owing to the sensory distribution of the femoral and obturator nerves.