Iliopsoas Release: A Systematic Review of Clinical Efficacy and Associated Complications

The role of iliopsoas fractional lengthening in hip arthroscopy: a systematic review

Arthroscopic iliopsoas fractional lengthening (IFL) is a surgical option for the treatment of internal snapping hip syndrome (ISHS) after failing conservative management. Systematic review. A search of PubMed central, National Library of Medicine (MEDLINE) and Scopus databases were performed by two individuals from the date of inception to April 2023. Inclusion criteria were ISHS treated with arthroscopy. Sample size, patient-reported outcomes and complications were recorded for 24 selected papers. Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines were followed and registered on PROSPERO database for systematic reviews (CRD42023427466). Thirteen retrospective case series, ten retrospective comparative studies, and one randomized control trial from 2005 to 2022 were reported on 1021 patients who received an iliopsoas fractional lengthening. The extracted data included patient satisfaction, visual analogue scale, the modified Harris hip score and additional outcome measures. All 24 papers reported statistically significant improvements in post-operative patient-reported outcome measures after primary hip arthroscopy and iliopsoas fractional lengthening. However, none of the comparative studies found a statistical benefit in performing IFL. Existing studies lack conclusive evidence on the benefits of Iliopsoas Fractional Lengthening (IFL), especially for competitive athletes, individuals with Femoroacetabular Impingement (FAI), and borderline hip dysplasia. Some research suggests IFL may be a safe addition to hip arthroscopy for Internal Snapping Hip Syndrome, but more comprehensive investigations are needed. Future studies should distinguish between concurrent procedures and develop methods to determine if the psoas muscle is the source of pain, instead of solely attributing it to the joint.

What happens to endoscopic/arthroscopic tenotomies with iliopsoas impingement in the medium term? Review of a prospective cohort of 64 patients with a minimum follow-up of 5 years

INTRODUCTION

The occurrence of iliopsoas impingement (IPI) after total hip arthroplasty (THA) is a proven risk factor for negative outcomes. Endoscopic or arthroscopic tenotomies of the iliopsoas offer a surgical solution with short-term results that have already been validated in prospective multicenter series. We carried out a review of the patients at more than 5 years of follow-up in order to assess the stability of the results over time.

HYPOTHESIS

Our main hypothesis was that endoscopic/arthroscopic tenotomies allow stable medium-term resolution of the painful symptoms of IPI. Our secondary hypothesis was that medium-term survival was satisfactory.

MATERIAL AND METHOD

This study is a continuation of a multicenter prospective series. Patients were contacted through multiple channels in order to: obtain an Oxford score, assess for satisfaction, psoas irritation, and daily pain on a visual analogue scale (VAS).

RESULTS

Of 64 patients in the original study, 57 were contacted. The Oxford score at the last follow-up was 40.7±7.7 [12-48]. There was a significant difference between the Oxford scores preoperatively, at 8 months and at the last follow-up. The mean satisfaction out of 10 was 8.0±2.1 [1-10]. We found 84% satisfaction at 5 years against 83% at 8 months. The VAS was 2.1±2.3 [0-10]. A straight leg psoas sign was present in 19.6% (10/51) of patients at 5 years, compared to 15.6% (8/51) at 8 months. The sign disappeared in four cases, while it reappeared during the interval in six cases. Survival was 91.2% (95% CI: 80.2-96.3) at 5 years.

CONCLUSION

Endoscopic/arthroscopic iliopsoas tenotomies represent a permanent medium-term solution to treat IPI after THA. The existence of a force differential or an acetabular overhang does not seem, within a certain limit, to impact the results in the medium term.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

IV; prospective series without control group.

Tendinopathies and Allied Disorders of the Hip

There are many soft tissue structures around the hip joint that may serve as a source of pain in both the native and prosthetic hip. In this review, the role of the gluteal, piriformis, iliopsoas, and rectus femoris musculotendinous units in the etiology of pathology around the hip joint will be discussed. Management options ranging from tailored physical therapy regimens to local steroid infiltration along with more invasive open and arthroscopic surgical techniques will be reviewed for each pathological entity. While not all conditions are well understood, advancements have been made in the management of each of these often challenging cases in both the native and prosthetic hip settings. This review explores these advancing treatment methods which will supplement the practice of any hip surgeon who is presented with problematic tendinopathy around both the native and prosthetic hip joint.

Joint Hypermobility Is Associated With Increased Risk of Postoperative Iliopsoas Tendinitis After Hip Arthroscopy for Femoroacetabular Impingement

PURPOSE

To determine whether increased joint hypermobility, quantified by the Beighton score, is associated with a greater incidence of iliopsoas tendinitis (IPT) in postoperative hip arthroscopy patients treated for femoroacetabular impingement (FAI).

METHODS

We conducted a retrospective chart review of patients who underwent hip arthroscopy for labral repair and FAI from 2016 to 2020 for whom at least 12 months of follow-up data were available. The Beighton score was measured by a blinded, independent reviewer. IPT was clinically diagnosed by a sports medicine fellowship-trained orthopaedic surgeon through physical examination. Patients with a diagnosis of IPT were matched at a 1:1 ratio to controls based on age, sex, and body mass index. Demographic characteristics, radiographs and advanced imaging, surgical characteristics, and corticosteroid injection therapy data were obtained via chart review. Statistical analysis was conducted using Mann-Whitney testing and binary logistic regression.

RESULTS

Forty patients in whom postoperative IPT developed were identified and matched to 40 control patients in whom postoperative tendinitis did not develop. Increased joint hypermobility, quantified by the Beighton score, was associated with an increased risk of IPT. For each 1-point increase in the Beighton score, there was a 1.69 (95% confidence interval, 1.25-2.29; P < .001) increased odds of IPT development postoperatively. A high (≥4) versus low (<4) Beighton score was associated with an increased likelihood of tendinitis (odds ratio, 9.82; 95% confidence interval, 2.79-34.58; P < .001). However, there was no association between greater Beighton scores and patients' likelihood of receiving a corticosteroid injection (P = .173).

CONCLUSIONS

Increased joint hypermobility, quantified by the Beighton score, is associated with an increased risk of IPT developing in the hip arthroscopy postoperative period in patients treated for FAI and labral pathology.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Level III, retrospective cohort study.