The Yoga Mat Technique in Postless Hip Arthroscopy

Association of Postless Distraction in Hip Arthroscopy With Decreased Postoperative Groin Numbness

BACKGROUND

Patients undergoing hip arthroscopy performed with perineal post distraction may experience postoperative nerve and soft tissue complications related to the perineal post.

PURPOSE

To compare rates of postoperative numbness in patients undergoing hip arthroscopy for femoroacetabular impingement syndrome (FAIS) with postless distraction and perineal post distraction methods.

STUDY DESIGN

Cohort study; Level of evidence, 3.

METHODS

A retrospective review of prospectively collected data was performed on patients who underwent hip arthroscopy for FAIS, with postless distraction and perineal post distraction methods. Medical records were reviewed for patient characteristics, radiographic data, and operative data. Traction force data were collected on all patients prospectively using a previously validated method. Data on postoperative numbness (presence/absence and regionality) were collected prospectively at routine postoperative follow-ups (6-week and 3-month postoperative clinic visits).

RESULTS

Overall, 195 patients were included, with 94 patients (mean age, 30.4 years) in the postless distraction cohort and 101 patients (mean age, 31.9 years) in the post distraction cohort. The overall numbness rates were 29 of 94 (30.9%) in the postless distraction group and 45 of 101 (44.6%) in the post distraction group (P = .068). Rates of postoperative groin numbness were 1 of 94 (1.1%) in the postless distraction group and 19 of 101 (18.8%) in the post distraction group (P < .001). Multivariate analysis for postoperative groin numbness demonstrated post distraction (odds ratio [OR], 16.5; P = .022) and traction time (OR, 1.7; P = .020) to be statistically significant variables. In subgroup analysis of the post distraction group, traction time (P = .015), but not holding (P = .508) or maximum traction force (P = .665), reached statistical significance in patients who developed postoperative groin numbness.

CONCLUSION

Postless distraction hip arthroscopy demonstrated a statistically significantly lower rate of groin numbness rates in comparison with a traditional perineal post distraction method. In the post distraction group, traction time was significantly higher in patients who developed postoperative groin numbness than in those who did not.

A Prospective Comparison of Groin-Related Complications After Hip Arthroscopy With and Without a Perineal Post

BACKGROUND

Previous studies have demonstrated various groin-related nerve and soft tissue complications in patients undergoing hip arthroscopy with a perineal post.

PURPOSE

To prospectively compare groin-related nerve and soft tissue complications between patients undergoing hip arthroscopy with and without the use of a perineal post.

STUDY DESIGN

Cohort study; Level of evidence, 2.

METHODS

A prospective single-surgeon cohort study was performed on all patients undergoing hip arthroscopy by the senior author between January 2020 and March 2022. A post-free hip distraction system was used at 1 center in which the senior author operates, and a system with a large padded perineal post was used at another surgical location. Patients completed a survey at the first postoperative visit (7-10 days) to determine if they had experienced any groin-related complications after surgery (groin numbness, sexual/urinary dysfunction, skin tears). Patients with a positive survey response repeated the survey at each follow-up visit (6 weeks, 3 months, 6 months) until the symptoms resolved. The rate and duration of groin-related complications were then compared between the groups.

RESULTS

A total of 87 patients were included in the study who underwent hip arthroscopy: 53 with a perineal post and 34 without. No differences were found between the post and postless groups in terms of age at surgery, sex, body mass index, or traction time. We found that 16 patients (30%) in the perineal post group experienced groin numbness versus 0 (0%) in the postless group (P < .0001). On average, groin numbness lasted 5 ± 3 days (mean ± SD) in the perineal post group. Three patients in the perineal post group experienced sexual dysfunction for a mean 7 days, as compared with none in the postless group. Seventeen patients (32%) in the perineal post group experienced foot numbness versus 4 (12%) in the postless group (P = .04). One patient in the perineal post group reported a superficial skin tear.

CONCLUSION

Postless hip arthroscopy resulted in no risk of groin-related complications as compared with traditional hip arthroscopy with a perineal post.

Current Trends in the Use of Postless Hip Arthroscopy: A Survey of the International Society for Hip Arthroscopy Membership

Background

Previous studies have demonstrated the risks of pudendal nerve and/or soft tissue complications due to the use of a perineal post during hip arthroscopy. Recently, various postless hip arthroscopy techniques have been described in the literature.

Purpose

To assess the current international trends in the use of postless hip arthroscopy among hip preservation specialists.

Study Design

Cross-sectional study.

Methods

An anonymous 11-item survey was sent by email to all members of the International Society for Hip Arthroscopy (ISHA) in January 2022. Surgeons were asked various questions regarding their current use of post-assisted or postless hip arthroscopy, if they had changed their setup technique during their career and the reason for that change, and their perceived rate of pudendal nerve and/or perineal soft tissue injuries using their current technique. Descriptive statistics were used to report the results of each question. The Student t test was used to compare the number of years in practice between post-assisted and postless users. Fisher exact tests were performed to compare categorical rates of pudendal nerve and soft tissue complications between post-assisted and postless users.

Results

A total of 126 surveys were completed from 431 ISHA members (29.2%). Sixty-one percent of the surgeons currently use a perineal post, while 33% use a postless technique. Seventy-five percent of the perineal post users and 98% of the postless users self-reported a rate of pudendal nerve and/or soft tissue injury of <1% (P = .015). Among 41 respondents who indicated changing their technique at some point, 59% reported doing so because of pudendal nerve and/or soft tissue complications. Among surgeons who switched from a perineal post to a postless setup, 71% indicated they have noticed a decrease in the rate of pudendal nerve and/or soft tissue complications.

Conclusion

Although use of a perineal post is still a more common setup technique among hip arthroscopists, approximately one-third of surgeons use a postless technique. Surgeons who have switched to a postless technique often did so because of perineal complications, with the majority noticing a subjective decrease in these complications with the use of postless hip arthroscopy.

Postless Arthroscopic Hip Preservation Can be Adequately Performed Using Published Techniques

Purpose

To identify and evaluate techniques used for postless hip arthroscopy.

Methods

A narrative review was performed using Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines to identify surgical technique articles or clinical studies describing techniques for the use of postless hip arthroscopy. Specific items sought for analysis included hip arthroscopy for femoroacetabular impingement including cam or pincer-type lesions, surgical time, traction time, traction force, bed Trendelenburg angle, intraoperative techniques, and postoperative outcomes, including complications. Exclusion criteria included any postless techniques used for open hip surgeries such as periacetabular osteotomy, sports hernia, peritrochanteric work, gluteus medius repair, ischiofemoral impingement, hamstring repair, or need for intraoperative conversion from postless to posted technique.

Results

Ten studies (1 Level III, 3 Level IV, 6 Level V), published from 2007 to 2021, were analyzed (1,341 hips, 51.5% male, mean age ranged from 16.0 to 66.0 years). In 4 studies, Trendelenburg position with a foam pad (The Pink Pad; Xodus Medical, Inc.) was used at 5 to 20°. Six of 10 studies contained no clinical results. The average traction force and time ranged from 65.0 to 88 pounds and 31.0 to 73.5 minutes, respectively. The remaining studies used the yoga mat technique, the Tutankhamun technique, the beanbag technique, and the Hip Arthroscopy Post-less Procedure Impingement technique. There was only one incident of pudendal neurapraxia, which resolved spontaneously at 6 weeks without complication. Sufficient distraction was able to be obtained using postless traction in all cases.

Conclusions

Postless hip arthroscopy may adequately be performed with a variety of techniques. Obtaining adequate traction and countertraction may be achieved through these postless methods.

Clinical Relevance

Given the potential serious complications that may result from use of a perineal post, it is important for surgeons to be aware of postless techniques that may be used effectively for hip arthroscopy.