Borderline Dysplasia After Primary Hip Arthroscopy with Capsular Plication and Labral Preservation: Ten-Year Survivorship and Patient-Reported Outcomes

The Iliopsoas: Anatomy, Clinical Evaluation, and Its Role in Hip Pain in the Athlete: A Scoping Review

Disability due to iliopsoas (IP) pain and dysfunction is underdiagnosed in the athletic population. The IP unit consists of the psoas major and iliacus muscles converging to form the IP tendon and is responsible primarily for hip flexion strength but has a number of secondary contributions such as femoral movement, trunk rotation, core stabilization, and dynamic anterior stability to the hip joint. As the IP passes in front of the anterior acetabulum and labrum, the diagnosis of IP pain may be confused with labral tearing seen on magnetic resonance imaging. This is in addition to the low sensitivity of magnetic resonance imaging to detect IP tendinitis and bursitis. Resisted seated hip flexion as well as direct palpation of the IP tendon and muscle belly are useful to assess function and help determine whether the IP may be the source of pain, which is common in athletes. Both biomechanical and clinical investigations have demonstrated the role of IP as an anterior hip stabilizer. Patients with signs of hip microinstability, developmental dysplasia of the hip, and increased femoral anteversion are at risk of IP pain and poor outcomes after IP lengthening, highlighting the importance of the IP in providing dynamic anterior hip stability.

Noninterportal capsulotomy of hip arthroscopy showed improved outcomes in borderline hip dysplasia: A retrospective study with minimum 2-year follow-up

PURPOSE

The present study aimed to evaluate the functional outcomes of hip arthroscopy using a noninterportal capsulotomy technique to address labral tears in patients with borderline hip dysplasia (BHD). Additionally, we also compared these outcomes with those of patients with BHD who underwent the standard repaired interportal capsulotomy (RIPC) arthroscopy.

METHODS

Data from patients with BHD were retrieved from a database of patients who underwent arthroscopic hip surgery with noninterportal capsulotomy or RIPC to treat labral tears between January 2014 and December 2020. Data collected included both pre- and postoperative patient-reported outcomes (PROs).

RESULTS

A total of 58 patients (noninterportal capsulotomy, n = 37; RIPC, n = 21) with a mean age of 30.9 ± 5.6 and 28.6 ± 5.5 years, respectively, met the inclusion criteria. All of the patients underwent a minimal 2-year follow-up. The mean lateral centre-edge angle was 23.3 ± 1.2° in the noninterportal capsulotomy group and 23.7 ± 1.0° in the RIPC group, with no significant difference. The PROs improved from the preoperative to the latest follow-up, with a p < 0.001. There were no differences between the groups.

CONCLUSION

Using strict patient selection criteria, hip arthroscopy with noninterportal capsulotomy demonstrated significant pre- to postoperative improvements in patients with BHD and achieved results comparable to those from hip arthroscopy with RIPC.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Level III.

The Otto Aufranc Award: Does Hip Arthroscopy at the Time of Periacetabular Osteotomy Improve the Clinical Outcome for the Treatment of Hip Dysplasia? A Multi-Center Randomized Clinical Trial

BACKGROUND

A periacetabular osteotomy (PAO) is often sufficient to treat the symptoms and improve quality of life for symptomatic hip dysplasia. However, acetabular cartilage and labral pathologies are very commonly present, and there is a lack of evidence examining the benefits of adjunct arthroscopy to treat these. The goal of this study was to compare the clinical outcome of patients undergoing PAO with and without arthroscopy, with the primary endpoint being the International Hip Outcome Tool-33 (iHOT-33) at one year.

METHODS

In a multi-center study, two hundred and three patients who had symptomatic hip dysplasia were randomized: 97 patients undergoing an isolated PAO (mean age 27 years (range, 16 to 44); mean Body Mass Index (BMI) of 25.1 (range, 18.3 to 37.2); 86% women) and 91 patients undergoing PAO who had an arthroscopy [mean age 27 years (range, 16 to 49); mean BMI of 25.1 (17.5 to 25.1); 90% women].

RESULTS

At a mean follow up of 2.3 years (range, 1 to 5), all patients exhibited significant improvements in their functional score, with no significant differences between PAO plus arthroscopy versus PAO alone at 12 months post-surgery on all scores: pre-operative iHot-33 score of 31.2 (SD [standard deviation] 16.0) versus 36.4 (SD 15.9), and 12 months post-operative score of 72.4 (SD 23.4) versus 73.7 (SD 22.6)]. The pre-operative Hip disability and Osteoarthritis Outcome (HOOS)-pain score was 60.3 (SD 19.6) versus 66.1 (SD 20.0)] and 12 months post-operative [88.2 (SD 15.8) versus 88.4 (SD 18.3)]. The mean pre-operative physical health Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) score was 42.5 (SD 8.0) versus 44.2 (SD 8.8) and 12 months post-operative [48.7 (SD 8.5) versus 52.0 (SD 10.6)]. There were four patients with PAO without arthroscopy who required an arthroscopy later to resolve persistent symptoms, and one patient from the PAO plus arthroscopy group required an additional arthroscopy.

CONCLUSION

This Randomized Controlled Trial (RCT) has failed to show any significant clinical benefit in performing hip arthroscopy at the time of the PAO at one-year follow-up. Longer follow-up will be required to determine if hip arthroscopy provides added value to a PAO for symptomatic hip dysplasia.

Primary and Revision Hip Arthroscopy in Borderline Hip Dysplasia Shows Comparable Outcomes at Minimum 5-Year Follow-Up

PURPOSE

To compare patient-reported outcomes (PROs), achievement of clinically significant outcomes (CSOs), and reoperation-free survivorship between primary and revision hip arthroscopy (HA) for femoroacetabular impingement syndrome (FAIS) in propensity-matched borderline hip dysplasia (BHD) patients at minimum 5-year follow-up.

METHODS

Patients with BHD, characterized by a lateral center-edge angle 18°-25°, who underwent HA for FAIS with capsular repair by a single surgeon between 01/2012-06/2018 with minimum 5-year follow-up were identified. Cases of revision HA were propensity-matched 1:2 to cases of primary HA, controlling for age, sex, and body mass index (BMI). A 1:2 ratio was chosen to maximize the number of included patients. Collected PROs included: Hip Outcome Score-Activities of Daily Living and Sport Subscales, International Hip Outcome Score 12, modified Harris Hip Score, and Visual Analog Scale for Pain. Achievement of minimal clinically important difference (MCID), patient acceptable symptom state (PASS), and substantial clinical benefit (SCB) for any measured PRO were compared between groups along with reoperation-free survivorship using Kaplan-Meier analysis.

RESULTS

Thirty-six revision HA hips (34 patients) were propensity-matched to 72 primary HA hips (70 patients). The groups were similar in age (31.5±10.3 years vs. 30.5±11.2,P=0.669), sex (69.4% female vs. 70.8%,P=0.656), and BMI (25.7±4.0 kg/m2 vs. 25.5±3.7,P=0.849). The revision group showed a greater prevalence of prolonged preoperative pain (50.0% vs. 27.8%,P=0.032) compared to the primary group. A significant improvement in all PROs was observed for both groups with comparable PROs preoperatively and at 5-year follow-up between groups (P≥0.086). The revision and primary groups showed comparable MCID (95.0% vs. 95.7%,P=1.000), PASS (80.0% vs. 83.6%,P=0.757), and SCB (62.5% vs. 70.7%,P=0.603) achievement for any PRO. Comparable reoperation-free survivorship was observed (P=0.151).

CONCLUSION

Propensity-matched patients with BHD undergoing primary and revision hip arthroscopy for FAIS achieved similar minimum 5-year PROs, CSOs, and reoperation-free survivorship.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Level III, Retrospective Comparative Case Series.

Outcomes of Flexibility Sport Athletes With Borderline Hip Dysplasia After Hip Arthroscopy for Femoroacetabular Impingement Syndrome: A Propensity-Matched Analysis at Minimum 2-Year Follow-up

BACKGROUND

Hip arthroscopy has proved successful in treating femoroacetabular impingement syndrome (FAIS) in patients with and without borderline hip dysplasia (BHD). Despite a high prevalence of BHD in patients who participate in sports with high flexibility requirements, a paucity of literature evaluates the efficacy of hip arthroscopy in treating FAIS in flexibility sport athletes with BHD.

PURPOSE

To compare minimum 2-year patient-reported outcomes (PROs) and achievement of clinically significant outcomes in flexibility sport athletes with BHD undergoing primary hip arthroscopy for FAIS with capsular plication with results in flexibility sport athletes without dysplasia.

STUDY DESIGN

Cohort study; Level of evidence, 3.

METHODS

Data were prospectively collected for patients undergoing primary hip arthroscopy for FAIS with BHD, defined as a lateral center-edge angle of 18° to 25°, who reported participation in a sport with a high flexibility requirement, including dance, gymnastics, figure skating, yoga, cheerleading, and martial arts, according to previous literature. These patients were matched 1:2 to flexibility sport athletes without dysplasia, controlling for age, sex, and body mass index. Preoperative and minimum 2-year postoperative PROs were collected and compared between groups. Cohort-specific minimal clinically important difference and patient acceptable symptom state achievement was compared between groups.

RESULTS

In total, 52 flexibility sport athletes with BHD were matched to 104 flexibility sport athletes without BHD. Both groups showed similar sport participation (P = .874) and a similar level of competition (P = .877). Preoperative lateral center-edge angle (22.2°± 1.6° vs 31.5°± 3.9°; P < .001) and Tönnis angle (10.9°± 3.7° vs 5.8°± 4.4°; P < .001) differed between groups. Capsular plication was performed in all cases. Both groups achieved significant improvement in all PROs (P < .001) with no differences in postoperative PROs between groups (P≥ .147). High minimal clinically important difference (BHD group: 95.7%; control group: 94.8%) and patient acceptable symptom state (BHD group: 71.7%; control group: 72.2%) achievement for any PRO was observed with no differences between groups (P≥ .835).

CONCLUSION

Flexibility sport athletes with BHD achieved similar outcomes as those of flexibility sport athletes without BHD after hip arthroscopy for FAIS with capsular plication.

Borderline Hip Dysplasia Is Not Associated With Significant Differences in Hip Survivorship or Patient-Reported Outcomes Following Primary Hip Arthroscopy for Femoroacetabular Impingement Syndrome: A Propensity-Matched Cohort Study

PURPOSE

To compare hip survivorship and patient-reported outcomes after primary hip arthroscopy for femoroacetabular impingement syndrome (FAIS) in patients with versus without comorbid borderline hip dysplasia (BHD) at 2-year follow-up.

METHODS

A retrospective matched-cohort study was conducted involving patients who underwent primary hip arthroscopy for FAIS with a single surgeon from 2010 to 2019. BHD was defined as lateral center edge angle (LCEA) of 20 to 25°. Subjects with BHD were matched 1:2 to controls without BHD on age, sex, body mass index, and preoperative modified Harris Hip Score (mHHS). Alpha angle, LCEA, Tönnis angle, and acetabular retroversion signs were measured on preoperative and/or postoperative hip radiographs. Patient-reported outcomes were assessed using the mHHS and the Non-Arthritic Hip Score. Hip survivorship, outcome scores, and achievement of the minimum clinically important difference were compared between groups using the Mann-Whitney U test or Fisher exact test, as appropriate. P values <.05 were considered significant.

RESULTS

Thirty-one BHD subjects (mean age 36.8 years, 71.0% female) and 62 controls (mean age 38.0 years, 71.0% female) were included. There were no significant intergroup differences in demographics or preoperative radiographic measurements besides LCEA and Tönnis angle (all P > .05). Intraoperatively, subjects with BHD were found to have significantly shorter labral tears (mean 2.6 vs 2.8 clock-face hours, P = .048), but there were no significant intergroup differences in acetabular or femoral cartilage status (all P > .05). Postoperatively, there were no significant intergroup differences in rates of revision arthroscopy (BHD 6.5% vs control 11.3%) or conversion to total hip arthroplasty (BHD 9.7% vs control 1.6%), in 2-year improvement of the mHHS and Non-Arthritic Hip Score, or in minimum clinically important difference achievement rates (all P > .05).

CONCLUSIONS

BHD is not associated with a significant difference in hip survivorship or patient-reported outcomes following primary hip arthroscopy for FAIS.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Level III, retrospective comparative study.

Predicting Outcomes in Hip Arthroscopy for Femoroacetabular Impingement Syndrome

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

Arthroscopic treatment of femoroacetabular impingement syndrome (FAIS) continues to rise in incidence, and thus there is an increased focus on factors that predict patient outcomes. The factors that impact the outcomes of arthroscopic FAIS treatment are complex. The purpose of this review is to outline the current literature concerning predictors of patient outcomes for arthroscopic treatment of FAIS.

RECENT FINDINGS

Multiple studies have shown that various patient demographics, joint parameters, and surgical techniques are all correlated with postoperative outcomes after arthroscopic FAIS surgery, as measured by both validated patient-reported outcome (PRO) scores and rates of revision surgery including hip arthroplasty. To accurately predict patient outcomes for arthroscopic FAIS surgery, consideration should be directed toward preoperative patient-specific factors and intraoperative technical factors. The future of accurately selecting patient predictors for outcomes will only improve with increased data, improved techniques, and technological advancement.

Editorial Commentary: Arthroscopy With Labral Preservation or Reconstruction Plus Capsular Closure Shows Excellent Outcome in Patients With Borderline Hip Dysplasia and is Less Invasive Than Periacetabular Osteotomy

Borderline developmental dysplasia of the hip (BDDH), or borderline hip dysplasia (BHD), traditionally characterized by a relatively low lateral center-edge angle (LCEA), presents a complex challenge in treatment due to its multifaceted etiology involving instability, femoroacetabular impingement (FAI), or a combination thereof. The optimal approach to managing adult BDDH remains a subject of significant debate. Periacetabular osteotomy (PAO) is considered the preferred treatment for addressing severe acetabular under-coverage, as it rectifies the underlying bony deficiency and promotes stability. However, the treatment of BDDH is less straightforward, particularly with the advancement of hip arthroscopy techniques, specifically labral preservation and capsular management. Given the minimally invasive and rapid postoperative rehabilitation advantage for arthroscopic procedures over open surgeries, numerous attempts have been undertaken in this context. Research has revealed favorable patient-reported outcomes (PROs), low failure rates, and a significant proportion of returning to sports (RTS) after arthroscopic management for patients with BDDH. Although we might in the right direction, Level I evidence studies are needed to comprehensively compare long-term PROs, failure rates, and rates of RTS between arthroscopy and PAO in the treatment of BDDH.

Osteochondral Allograft or Autograft Transplantation of the Femoral Head Leads to Improvement in Outcomes but Variable Survivorship: A Systematic Review

PURPOSE

To review patient-reported outcomes (PROs) and survivorship in patients undergoing osteochondral autograft or allograft transplantation (OAT) of the femoral head.

METHODS

PubMed, Cochrane Center for Register of Controlled Trials, and Scopus databases were searched in November 2022 with an updated search extending to December 2023 using criteria from the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses and the following keywords: (hip OR femoral head) AND (mosaicplasty OR osteochondral allograft OR osteochondral autograft OR osteochondral lesion). Articles were included if they evaluated postoperative PROs in patients who underwent OAT of the femoral head and had a study size of 5 or more hips (n ≥ 5). Survivorship was defined as freedom from conversion to total hip arthroplasty. For PROs evaluated in 3 studies or more, forest plots were created and I2 was calculated.

RESULTS

Twelve studies were included in this review, with a total of 156 hips and a mean follow-up time ranging between 16.8 and 222 months. In total, 104 (66.7%) hips were male while 52 (33.3%) were female. Age of patients ranged from 17.0 to 35.4 years, while body mass index ranged from 23.3 to 28.1. Eight studies reported on osteochondral autograft transplantation and 4 studies on osteochondral allograft transplantation. Three studies reported significant improvement in at least 1 PRO. Survivorship ranged from 61.5% to 96% at minimum 2-year follow-up and from 57.1% to 91% at minimum 5-year follow-up. At a follow-up of less than 5 years, osteochondral allograft transplantation studies showed 70% to 87.5% survivorship, while autograft varied from 61.54% to 96%.

CONCLUSIONS

Patients with osteochondral lesions of the femoral head who underwent osteochondral autograft or allograft transplantation demonstrated improved PROs but variable survivorship rates.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Level IV, systematic review of Level IV studies.

Hip Arthroscopic Surgery With Chondrolabral Refixation, Osteochondroplasty, and Routine Capsular Closure for Femoroacetabular Impingement Syndrome: Clinical Outcomes at a Minimum 10-Year Follow-up

BACKGROUND

Hip arthroscopic surgery for femoroacetabular impingement syndrome (FAIS) has proven to be an effective surgical intervention, with high rates of return to sport and work as well as favorable outcomes at short- and midterm follow-up. However, limited data exist on outcomes at long-term follow-up.

PURPOSE

To evaluate patient-reported outcomes (PROs) at a minimum 10-year follow-up after primary hip arthroscopic surgery including labral repair, femoral osteochondroplasty, acetabular osteochondroplasty, and capsular closure for FAIS.

STUDY DESIGN

Case series; Level of evidence, 4.

METHODS

Patients who underwent primary hip arthroscopic surgery for FAIS between June 2012 and January 2013 were identified. PROs were collected preoperatively and at a minimum of 10 years postoperatively, including the Hip Outcome Score-Activities of Daily Living (HOS-ADL), Hip Outcome Score-Sports Subscale (HOS-SS), modified Harris Hip Score (mHHS), International Hip Outcome Tool-12 (iHOT-12), and visual analog scale (VAS) for pain and satisfaction. Unique minimal clinically important difference (MCID) and patient acceptable symptom state (PASS) thresholds were calculated, and their rates of achievement were analyzed. An alpha level of <.05 was used to determine statistical significance.

RESULTS

A total of 94 patients (55 female; mean age, 34.3 ± 12.4 years) were analyzed with a mean follow-up of 10.1 ± 0.3 years (range, 10.0-10.7 years). Patients demonstrated significant 10-year improvement across all PRO measures (P < .001). MCID and PASS thresholds were calculated as follows: HOS-ADL (10.4 and 85.3, respectively), HOS-SS (14.6 and 60.2, respectively), mHHS (8.8 and 76.0, respectively), VAS pain (14.6 and 27.5, respectively), and iHOT-12 (PASS: 71.4). The majority of patients achieved the MCID and PASS for each PRO measure: HOS-ADL (73.4% and 70.9%, respectively), HOS-SS (78.5% and 77.2%, respectively), mHHS (81.0% and 70.9%, respectively), VAS pain (88.6% and 70.9%, respectively), and iHOT-12 (PASS: 73.4%). Overall, 9 patients (9.6%) underwent subsequent revision hip arthroscopic surgery at a mean 4.9 ± 3.7 years (range, 1.1-10.1 years) postoperatively, and 6 patients (6.4%) underwent conversion to total hip arthroplasty at a mean 4.1 ± 3.1 years (range, 0.9-9.3 years) postoperatively.

CONCLUSION

Patients who underwent primary hip arthroscopic surgery for FAIS utilizing contemporary methods of labral repair, acetabular and/or femoral osteochondroplasty, and capsular closure commonly experienced sustained clinical improvement and reported high levels of satisfaction at a minimum 10-year follow-up with low rates of reoperation.

Editorial Commentary: Hip Arthroscopy Outcomes May Have a Gender Bias

It is a great challenge to analyze whether sex difference affects outcome of hip arthroscopy, because the indications, risk factors, and comorbidities are difficult to determine and may be heterogeneous between and within studies. For instance, mental health disorders, namely depression, are associated with worse outcomes following hip arthroscopy, and these disorders tend to be more prevalent in a female population. There are also known bony morphologic differences between men and women. Women tend to have a higher rate of borderline hip dysplasia defined by lateral center-edge angle between 18 and 25°. This is notable because long-term (10 year) survivorship of patients with this morphology undergoing hip arthroscopy is notably lower (79-82.2%) compared with patients undergoing hip arthroscopy without BHD (>90%). These gender differences, although notable within specific cohorts, are more difficult to tease out in large systematic reviews with all comers. In addition, many studies do not have longer-term follow-up required to assess conversion to THA. Perhaps hip arthroscopy outcomes are instead directly linked to independent bony morphologic, psychologic, and soft tissue-based risk factors that may have a gender bias.