Arthroscopic-Assisted Intraosseous Bioplasty of the Acetabulum

Arthroscopic Bone Grafting of Deep Acetabular Cysts in Hip Preservation Surgery: A Matched Case-Control Study

Background

Acetabular subchondral cysts are commonly identified signs of joint degeneration and arthritis. This pathology is generally considered a relative contraindication for hip preservation surgery.

Purpose

To investigate the effect of arthroscopic bone grafting for the treatment of acetabular subchondral cysts.

Study Design

Cohort study (diagnosis); Level of evidence, 3.

Methods

We completed a retrospective analysis of hip arthroscopies performed by the senior author between 2013 and 2021. Patients with radiologic evidence of acetabular cysts who underwent arthroscopic bone grafting, with or without subsequent periacetabular osteotomy (PAO) and/or derotational femoral osteotomy with a minimum of 2-year follow-up, were included in the analysis. Patients undergoing surgical treatment for diagnoses of slipped capital femoral epiphysis, Legg-Calves-Perthe disease, osteochondromatosis, or postdislocation syndrome, as well as patients who refused to participate in the study, were excluded. We compared the patient-reported outcomes (PROs) for patients who underwent arthroscopic bone grafting with a case-matched control group without acetabular cysts with the same surgical route (hip arthroscopy or hip arthroscopy followed by PAO). An "inside-out" arthroscopic bone grafting technique was utilized, which allowed for precise access to the cystic cavity through the articular side. We analyzed postoperative PROs at a minimum of 2 years postoperatively using the international Hip Outcome Tool (iHOT-12) and Nonarthritic Hip Score (NAHS).

Results

In total, there were 44 hips in the experimental group and 78 hips in the control group. The mean PRO interval in the experimental group was 3.4 years (range, 2-5 years postoperatively), with 20 patients reaching PROs 5 years postoperatively. The experimental group reported significant improvement of iHOT-12 and NAHS scores postoperatively (both P < .001). Postoperative iHOT-12 and NAHS scores did not significantly differ between groups over a 5-year follow-up interval (P = .26 and .17, respectively). Radiographic evidence of cyst healing was achieved in all 7 patients who underwent postoperative magnetic resonance imaging, with 3 cases of complete resolution.

Conclusion

Acetabular subchondral cysts treated with an inside-out method of arthroscopic bone grafting in the setting of hip preservation surgery with or without PAO was associated with a significant improvement in midterm PROs, comparable with a control group of patients without acetabular cysts who did not undergo bone grafting. Our results support the use of arthroscopic grafting in appropriately selected patients and suggest that hip preservation is not contraindicated in patients with acetabular subchondral cysts.

Updates on Management of Avascular Necrosis Using Hip Arthroscopy for Core Decompression

Osteonecrosis of the femoral head (ONFH) is caused when circulation within the femoral head is disrupted. Etiology of this disease is characterized by either traumatic events or atraumatic risk factors, such as chronic alcohol consumption or glucocorticoid use. ONFH commonly presents as pain in the groin, gluteus muscles, and/or knee with reductions in internal rotation range of motion of the hip. ONFH pathology can be confirmed with radiographic or advanced imaging and characterized by stage, size and location of the lesion. Treatment for ONFH consists of conservative and therapeutic methods as well as surgical intervention. Historically, ONFH has been treated using total hip arthroplasty (THA), but with increasing incidence in a younger, active population, measures to preserve the native hip joint have been explored. Recent advancements in hip arthroscopy and arthroscopy-assisted core decompression have led to improved outcomes, reduced pain and higher hip survival rate for early onset ONFH compared with more invasive approaches such as THA. Biologic treatments combined with arthroscopic core decompression have also shown improved outcomes and quality of life in few reports, suggesting a potential role for biologic adjuncts. The current study provides a comprehensive review and update on the literature surrounding arthroscopy-assisted core decompression for patients with ONFH.

Potential Mechanism of Action of Current Point-of-Care Autologous Therapy Treatments for Osteoarthritis of the Knee-A Narrative Review

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a progressive degenerative disease that manifests as pain and inflammation and often results in total joint replacement. There is significant interest in understanding how intra-articular injections made from autologous blood or bone marrow could alleviate symptoms and potentially intervene in the progression of the disease. There is in vitro an in vivo evidence that suggests that these therapies, including platelet-rich plasma (PRP), autologous anti-inflammatories (AAIs), and concentrated bone marrow aspirate (cBMA), can interrupt cartilage matrix degradation driven by pro-inflammatory cytokines. This review analyzes the evidence for and against inclusion of white blood cells, the potential role of platelets, and the less studied potential role of blood plasma when combining these components to create an autologous point-of-care therapy to treat OA. There has been significant focus on the differences between the various autologous therapies. However, evidence suggests that there may be more in common between groups and perhaps we should be thinking of these therapies on a spectrum of the same technology, each providing significant levels of anti-inflammatory cytokines that can be antagonists against the inflammatory cytokines driving OA symptoms and progression. While clinical data have demonstrated symptom alleviation, more studies will need to be conducted to determine whether these preclinical disease-modifying findings translate into clinical practice.