Iliopsoas bursa of the rheumatoid hip joint. A case report and review of the literature

Minimum 5-year follow-up of arthroscopic treatment of symptomatic iliopectineal cyst

INTRODUCTION

We aimed to primarily assess the clinical and functional outcomes of arthroscopic treatment of the symptomatic iliopectineal cyst at a minimum 5-year follow-up. Our secondary objective was to document the technical nuances of our arthroscopic technique.

METHODS

A retrospective review of chart data was performed for 30 patients who underwent arthroscopic treatment of a symptomatic iliopectineal cyst in the period between 1999 and 2015. The mean age of our patients was 57 (33-78) years. All patients completed a minimum follow-up period of 5 years. Our clinical outcomes were assessed by 100 mm VAS for pain, recurrence rate and complications. Functional outcome was evaluated by the modified Harris hip score (mHHS). Patients were asked their level of satisfaction with surgery on a scale of 0-10.

RESULTS

In all patients, the valve mechanism of the iliopectineal cyst could be released arthroscopically and the cyst could be completely evacuated. The preoperative symptoms disappeared within 3-6 weeks after the arthroscopic intervention. Patients showed significant improvement in VAS and mHHS 6 months postoperatively and at final follow-up. The average patient satisfaction was 9.2 at 6 months postoperative and 7.9 at final follow-up. None of our patients experienced any complications. At the final follow-up, there was neither clinical nor radiological evidence of cyst recurrence.

CONCLUSIONS

Arthroscopic treatment of the iliopectineal cyst is a feasible and safe alternative to open surgery resulting in significant improvement of clinical and functional outcomes.

Leg lymphedema caused by iliopectineal bursitis associated with destruction of a rheumatoid hip joint: A case report

The present study describes a case of leg lymphedema due to iliopectineal bursitis associated with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), which was satisfactorily controlled by surgery and combination therapy with methotrexate (MTX) and tacrolimus. A 68-year-old male, who had a six-year history of RA, developed an iliopectineal bursa associated with destruction of the hip joint. The mass gradually increased in size, and there was swelling in his right lower extremity. The patient was subsequently hospitalized with increasing right hip pain and leg edema. A colorless transparent lymph fluid leaked from his leg, and leg lymphedema was thus diagnosed. The patient also had a 20-year history of myelodysplastic syndrome. Therefore, the extensive or total resection of the bursa was considered to be too invasive, so a partial bursal excision was performed via an anterior approach. Following the partial bursal excision, total hip arthroplasty (THA) was performed using the Hardinge approach. The leg lymphedema disappeared following the surgery, and the iliopectineal bursa was no longer enlarged. MTX and tacrolimus were postoperatively administered to strictly control the RA. The RA was subsequently well controlled, without any increases in the levels of inflammatory markers, such as C-reactive protein and matrix metalloproteinase-3. This case demonstrated that iliopectineal bursitis was resolved following THA, without complete excision of the intrapelvic bursa, and that strict RA control led to a good clinical course without recurrent inflammation of the bursa. Similar procedures may be beneficial in other patients contraindicated for resection of the entire bursa.

Giant iliopectineal bursitis presenting as neuropathy and severe edema of the lower limb: case illustration and review of the literature

We report a 61-year-old woman with rheumatoid arthritis (RA: Steinblocker stage III, class 3) who developed severe swelling and neuropathy of the right lower limb caused by an iliopectineal bursa associated with destruction of the hip joint. Physical examination revealed an inguinal mass and groin pain. X-ray examination indicated destruction of the hip joint. Contrast-enhanced computed tomography showed the bursa connected with the hip joint and a markedly compressed external iliac vein among the inguinal ligament, pubis, and bursa. The patient underwent partial synovial resection and total hip arthroplasty for recovery of hip function, and this led to successful resolution of the symptoms and bursa. We present the characteristic images from this case and review all previously reported cases of RA iliopsoas bursitis causing leg swelling or neuropathy, and summarize the background. Since this lesion may cause various symptoms, clinical awareness that iliopsoas bursitis may present with unique clinical symptoms may aid correct diagnosis.

Prevalence study of iliopsoas bursitis in a cohort of 860 patients affected by symptomatic hip osteoarthritis

We used ultrasound to evaluate iliopsoas bursitis (IB) prevalence in 860 patients (568 males, 292 females, 62 ± 7 years) suffering from symptomatic Kellgren-Lawrence grade II-III-IV hip osteoarthritis. Lequesne index and visual analogue scale (VAS) were recorded. Anterior hip was scanned and images recorded. Maximum IB diameter was measured and drained (volume recorded). Two radiologists evaluated the presence of IB, joint effusion, synovial hypertrophy, communication between bursa and articular space. IB was found in 19/860 (2.2%) patients (16 males, 3 females, 65 ± 11 years; grade II osteoarthritis = 4; III = 9; IV = 6). Mean bursa diameter = 2.9 ± 0.9 cm, volume = 35 ± 34 mL. Effusion was present in 9/19 patients, hypertrophy in 6/19 and communication in 9/19. In patients with no IB, effusion was detected in 27/860 and hypertrophy in 25/860 (p < 0.001 compared with IB patients). κ = 1 for all. VAS index and Lequesne index were not significantly different between patients with or without IB (p ≥ 0.468). Ultrasound can detect associate findings in grade II-IV hip osteoarthritis patients with high reproducibility.

Femoral nerve palsy caused by a huge iliopectineal synovitis extending to the iliac fossa in a rheumatoid arthritis case

We report on a 54-year-old woman with rheumatoid arthritis who had severe femoral nerve palsy affected by a distended synovium in the hip joint. Surgical exploration demonstrated a perforation of the iliopectineal bursa connecting with the hip joint. The patient fully recovered from femoral nerve palsy after surgery. It was considered that synovitis of the hip joint had developed following huge iliopectineal bursitis.

Iliopsoas bursitis and pseudogout of the knee mimicking L2-L3 radiculopathy: case report and review of the literature

We report the case of a 74-year-old woman who presented with acute-onset right groin pain irradiating to the thigh anteriorly after having suffered for a few weeks from slight knee pain. As a CT scan showed multiple herniated intervertebral discs and spinal stenosis at the L3-L4 level, she was referred to a neurosurgical unit with the tentative diagnosis of L2-L3 radicular pain. Investigations (MR, myelography with CT scan) showed severe acquired lumbar canal stenosis. Decompression surgery was finally postponed because of the patient's serious cardiac medical history and she was referred to us for conservative treatment. She was found to have iliopsoas bursitis with chondrocalcinosis of the knee. Local steroid injections of the two sites abolished her symptoms. We draw attention to the possible pitfalls that the radiographic appearance and one of the multiple clinical presentations of this unrare pathology may represent. Whenever a patient comes walking with crutches, avoids putting weight on his or her leg, and radicular pain is suspected, we advise consideration of other extra-spinal causes for the pain.