Arthroscopic management of femoroacetabular impingement (FAI) has become the mainstay of treatment. However, chondral lesions are frequently encountered and have become a determinant of less favourable outcomes following arthroscopic intervention. The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to assess the outcomes of hip arthroscopy (HA) in patients with FAI and concomitant chondral lesions classified as per Outerbridge. A systematic search was performed using the PRISMA guidelines on four databases including MEDLINE, EMBASE, Cochrane Library and Web of Science. Studies which included HA as the primary intervention for management of FAI and classified chondral lesions according to the Outerbridge classification were included. Patients treated with open procedures, for osteonecrosis, Legg-Calve-Perthes disease, and previous ipsilateral hip fractures were excluded. From a total of 863 articles, twenty-four were included for final analysis. Demographic data, PROMs, and radiological outcomes and rates of conversion to total hip arthroplasty (THA) were collected. Risk of bias was assessed using ROBINS-I. Improved post-operative PROMs included mHHS (mean difference:-2.42; 95%CI:-2.99 to −1.85; p<0.001), NAHS (mean difference:-1.73; 95%CI: −2.23 to −1.23; p<0.001), VAS (mean difference: 2.03; 95%CI: 0.93-3.13; p<0.001). Pooled rate of revision surgery was 10% (95%CI: 7%-14%). Most of this included conversion to THA, with a 7% pooled rate (95%CI: 4%-11%). Patients had worse PROMs if they underwent HA with labral debridement (p=0.015), had Outerbridge 3 and 4 lesions (p=0.012), concomitant lesions of the femoral head and acetabulum lesions (p=0.029). Reconstructive cartilage techniques were superior to microfracture (p=0.042). Even in concomitant lesions of the femoral head and acetabulum, employing either microfracture or cartilage repair/reconstruction provided a benefit in PROMs (p=0.027). Acceptable post-operative outcomes following HA with labral repair/reconstruction and cartilage repair in patients with FAI and concomitant moderate-to-severe chondral lesions, can be achieved. Patients suffering from Outerbridge 3 and 4 lesions, concomitant acetabular rim and femoral head chondral lesions that underwent HA with labral debridement, had worse PROMs. Reconstructive cartilage techniques were superior to microfracture. Even in concomitant acetabular and femoral head chondral lesions, employing either microfracture or cartilage repair/reconstruction was deemed to provide a benefit in PROMs

The outcome of periacetabular osteotomy in dysplastic hips is dependent on the absence of preoperative osteoarthritis [OA]. The purpose of this study was to analyze whether Tonnis grading is a reliable predictor of OA in patients with hip dysplasia. Thirty patients were identified who had undergone hip arthroscopy surgery to assess their suitability for periacetabular osteotomy. Radiographs were assessed for anterior centre edge angle, lateral centre edge angle, Tonnis angle and Tonnis grade for OA changes. The radiographic grading of OA was compared with arthroscopic findings. Results. The average age at the time of arthroscopy was 34.97 [16 – 53yrs] (28 females). Tonnis grade did not correlate with arthroscopic findings (p=0.082). There was a trend for patients with a higher Tonnis grade to have more OA changes. Of the 30 patients, all 3 with grade 0 were fit for periacetabular osteotomy, while only 8 out of 24 with grade I, and 1 out of 3 with grade II were fit for periacetabular osteotomy. This study reports that even when radiographic grading showed minimal OA changes, arthroscopy findings indicated significant OA changes. Hence radiographic grading is a poor indicator of OA and other diagnostic modality should be sought before proceeding with joint preserving surgery in this highly selected subgroup of dysplastic hips

Abstract. Objectives. Outcomes following different types of surgical intervention for FAI are well reported individually but comparative data is deficient. The purpose of this study was to conduct a systematic review (SR) and meta-analysis to analyse the outcomes following surgical management of FAI by hip arthroscopy (HA), anterior mini open approach (AMO) and surgical hip dislocation (SHD). Methods. This SR was registered with PROSPERO. An electronic database search of Pubmed, Medline and EMBASE for English and German language articles over the last 20 years was carried out according to the PRISMA guidelines. We specifically analysed and compared changes in patient reported outcome measures PROMs, α-angle, rate of complications, rate of revision and conversion to total hip arthroplasty (THA). Results. A total of 48 articles included for final analysis with a total of 4384 hips in 4094 patients. All subgroups showed a significant correction in mean alpha angle post-operatively with a mean change of 28.8° (95% CI, 21°-36.5°; p <0.01) after AMO, 21.1° (95% CI, 15.1°-27°; p <0.01) after SHD and 20.39° (95% CI, 15.66°-25.12°; p <0.01) after HA. AMO group showed a significantly higher increase in PROMs (3.7; 95% CI, 3.2–4.2; p <0.01) versus arthroscopy (2.47; 95% CI, 2.22–2.73; p <0.01) and SHD (2.4; 95% CI, 1.5–3.3; p <0.01). However, the rate of complications following AMO was significantly higher than HA and SHD. Conclusion. All three surgical approaches offered significant improvements in outcomes and radiological correction of cam deformities. All three groups showed similar rates of revision procedures and SHD had the highest rate of conversion to a THA. Revision rates was similar for all three revision procedures

Hip arthroscopy is performed in a number of specialist centres throughout the UK with good results, no work has been published on the outcomes of hip arthroscopy in the District General Hospital setting. The early results from our prospective observational study show good outcomes in patients with femoro-acetabular impingement (FAI) and labral pathologies. To date we have follow-up data on 46 patients who have undergone hip arthroscopy with a mean follow-up period of 23 weeks. Of these patients 14 were male (30%) and 32 were female (70%) with a mean age of 36 years (16 to 62). Analysis of the data has shown a mean improvement in the Modified Harris Hip Score from 46.89 pre-operatively to 59.50 post-operatively (p<0.01) and a mean improvement in the Non-arthritic Hip Score from 47.38 pre-operatively to 66.74 post operatively (p<0.01). One of the patients has since undergone a total hip arthroplasty. There was one episode of minor wound infection treated successfully with oral antibiotics. There are been no cases of nerve injury or venous-thromboembolism. Our results demonstrate that hip arthroscopy can be provided safely in the DGH setting with good early functional outcomes

In order to determine the potential for an internervous safe zone, 20 hips from human cadavers were dissected to map out the precise pattern of innervation of the hip capsule. The results were illustrated in the form of a clock face. The reference point for measurement was the inferior acetabular notch, representing six o’clock. Capsular branches from between five and seven nerves contributed to each hip joint, and were found to innervate the capsule in a relatively constant pattern. An internervous safe zone was identified anterosuperiorly in an arc of 45° between the positions of one o’clock and half past two. Our study shows that there is an internervous zone that could be safely used in a capsule-retaining anterior, anterolateral or lateral approach to the hip, or during portal placement in hip arthroscopy

Background. Acetabular labral tears can cause pain and microinstability and are the most common indication for hip arthroscopy. Hip labral repair demonstrates better clinical outcome scores at a mean of 3.5 years post surgery than labral excision and tends to be performed in a younger age group. While different labral stitch configurations are possible, the most frequently used are a mattress stitch passed though the hip labrum at its widest part, or a simple loop surrounding the labrum. To determine the strength of variousrepair techniques and the impact suture passer sizesonhip labrum failure after cyclic loading. Methods. 35 unattached fresh-frozen bovine hip labrums were assigned to 5 repair techniques (7 specimens each): Group 1: horizontal mattress using a penetrating grasper; Group 2: vertical mattress using a penetrating grasper; Group 3: vertical mattress using asuture lasso; Group 4: Oblique repair using a penetrating grasper; Group 5: vertical mattress using a penetrating grasper and monopolar radio frequency device. Using a materials testing machine and after a 10N preload, each contruct was subjected to 20 cycles at 5N–80N. Cyclic elongation, peak-to-peak displacement, ultimate failure load, stiffness, and failure mode were recorded. Results. Group 1 (249N) had lower ultimate load than groups 2 (277N), 3 (289N), 4 (281N), and 5 (278N) (p<0.05) and higher peak to peak displacement, cyclic elongation (14mm) than group 3 (12mm) (p<0.05). Group 2 (15mm) had higher peak to peak displacement than group 3 (p<0.05). Group 3 had lower cyclic elongation and peak to peak displacements than group 4 (p<0.05). Conclusion. A horizontal mattress hip labrum repair demonstrates lower ultimate failure load than a vertical mattress or an oblique suture repair. A smaller diameter suture passing device demonstrated less cyclic displacement but no difference in ultimate failure load than a large diameter device. Radiofrequency treatment did not have any effect on the strength of the suture repair configuration. Level of evidence. Level 5

Femoroacetabular impingement (FAI) is a significant cause of osteoarthritis in young active individuals but the pathophysiology remains unclear. Increasing mechanistic studies point toward an inflammatory component in OA. This study aimed to characterise inflammatory cell subtypes in FAI by exploring the phenotype and quantification of inflammatory cells in FAI versus OA samples. Ten samples of labrum were obtained from patients with FAI (confirmed pathology) during open osteochondroplasty or hip arthroscopy. Control samples of labrum were collected from five patients with osteoarthritis undergoing total hip arthroplasty. Labral biopsies were evaluated immunohistochemically by quantifying the presence of macrophages (CD68 and CD202), T cells (CD3), mast cells (mast cell tryptase) and vascular endothelium (CD34). Labral biopsies obtained from patients with FAI exhibited significantly greater macrophage, mast cell and vascular endothelium expression compared to control samples. The most significant difference was noted in macrophage expression (p<0.01). Further sub typing of macrophages in FAI using CD202 tissue marker revealed and M2 phenotype suggesting that these cells are involved in a regenerate versus a degenerate process. There was a modest but significant correlation between mast cells and CD34 expression (r=0.4, p<0.05) in FAI samples. We provide evidence for an inflammatory cell infiltrate in femoroacetabular impingement. In particular, we demonstrate significant infiltration of mast cells and macrophages suggesting a role for innate immune pathways in the events that mediate hip impingement. Further mechanistic studies to evaluate the net contribution and hence therapeutic utility of these cellular lineages and their downstream processes may reveal novel therapeutic approaches to the management of early hip impingement

Objectives

The aim of this study was to systematically review the literature on measurement of muscle strength in patients with femoroacetabular impingement (FAI) and other pathologies and to suggest guidelines to standardise protocols for future research in the field.