The benefit of arthroscopy of the hip in the treatment of femoroacetabular impingement (FAI) in terms of quality of life (QoL) has not been reported. We prospectively collected data on 612 patients (257 women (42%) and 355 men (58%)) with a mean age at the time of surgery of 36.7 years (14 to 75) who underwent arthroscopy of the hip for FAI under the care of a single surgeon. The minimum follow-up was one year (mean 3.2 years (1 to 7)). The responses to the modified Harris hip score were translated using the Rosser Index Matrix in order to provide a QoL score. The mean QoL score increased from 0.946 (-1.486 to 0.995) to 0.974 (0.7 to 1) at one year after surgery (p < 0.001). The mean QoL score in men was significantly higher than in women, both before and one year after surgery (both p < 0.001). However, the mean change in the QoL score was not statistically different between men and women (0.02 (-0.21 to 0.27) and 0.04 (-0.16 to 0.87), respectively; p = 0.12). Linear regression analysis revealed that the significant predictors of a change in QoL score were pre-operative QoL score (p < 0.001) and gender (p = 0.04). The lower the pre-operative score, the higher the gain in QoL post-operatively (ρ = -0.66; p < 0.001). One year after surgery the QoL scores in the 612 patients had improved in 469 (76.6%), remained unchanged in 88 (14.4%) and had deteriorated in 55 (9.0%).

Arthroscopy of the native hip is an established diagnostic and therapeutic procedure. Its application in the symptomatic replaced hip is still being explored. We describe the use of arthroscopy of the hip in 24 symptomatic patients following total hip replacement, resurfacing arthroplasty of the hip and partial resurfacing (study group), and compared it with arthroscopy of the native hip in 24 patients (control group). A diagnosis was made or confirmed at arthroscopy in 23 of the study group and a therapeutic arthroscopic intervention resulted in relief of symptoms in ten of these. In a further seven patients it led to revision hip replacement. In contrast, arthroscopy in the control group was diagnostic in all 24 patients and the resulting arthroscopic therapeutic intervention provided symptomatic relief in 21.

The mean operative time in the study group (59.7 minutes (35 to 93)) was less than in the control group (71 minutes (40 to 100), p = 0.04) but the arthroscopic approach was more difficult in the arthroplasty group. We suggest that arthroscopy has a role in the management of patients with a symptomatic arthroplasty when other investigations have failed to provide a diagnosis.

Femoroacetabular impingement causes pain in the hip in young adults and may predispose to the development of osteoarthritis. Genetic factors are important in the aetiology of osteoarthritis of the hip and may have a role in that of femoroacetabular impingement. We compared 96 siblings of 64 patients treated for primary impingement with a spouse control group of 77 individuals. All the subjects were screened clinically and radiologically using a standardised protocol for the presence of cam and pincer deformities and osteoarthritis.

The siblings of those patients with a cam deformity had a relative risk of 2.8 of having the same deformity (66 of 160 siblings hips versus 23 of 154 control hips, p < 0.00001). The siblings of those patients with a pincer deformity had a relative risk of 2.0 of having the same deformity (43 of 116 sibling hips versus 29 of 154 control hips, p = 0.001). Bilateral deformity occurred more often in the siblings (42 of 96 siblings versus 13 of 77 control subjects, relative risk 2.6, p = 0.0002). The prevalence of clinical features in those hips with abnormal morphology was also greater in the sibling group compared with the control group (41 of 109 sibling hips versus 7 of 46 control hips, relative risk 2.5, p = 0.007). In 11 sibling hips there was grade-2 osteoarthritis according to Kellgren and Lawrence versus none in the control group (p = 0.002).

Genetic influences are important in the aetiology of primary femoroacetabular impingement. This risk appears to be manifested through not only abnormal joint morphology, but also through other factors which may modulate progression of the disease.

Although the association between femoroacetabular impingement and osteoarthritis is established, it is not yet clear which hips have the greatest likelihood to progress rapidly to end-stage disease. We investigated the effect of several radiological parameters, each indicative of a structural aspect of the hip joint, on the progression of osteoarthritis. Pairs of plain anteroposterior pelvic radiographs, taken at least ten years apart, of 43 patients (43 hips) with a pistol-grip deformity of the femur and mild (Tönnis grade 1) or moderate (Tönnis grade 2) osteoarthritis were reviewed. Of the 43 hips, 28 showed evidence of progression of osteoarthritis. There was no significant difference in the prevalence of progression between hips with initial Tönnis grade 1 or grade 2 osteoarthritis (p = 0.31). Comparison of the hips with and without progression of arthritis revealed a significant difference in the mean medial proximal femoral angle (81° vs 87°, p = 0.004) and the presence of the posterior wall sign (39% vs 7%, p = 0.02) only. A logistic regression model was constructed to predict the influence of these two variables in the development of osteoarthritis.

Mild to moderate osteoarthritis in hips with a pistol-grip deformity will not progress rapidly in all patients. In one-third, progression will take more than ten years to manifest, if ever. The individual geometry of the proximal femur and acetabulum partly influences this phenomenon. A hip with cam impingement is not always destined for end-stage arthritic degeneration.

There is a known association between femoroacetabular impingement and osteoarthritis of the hip. What is not known is whether arthroscopic excision of an impingement lesion can significantly improve a patient’s symptoms.

This study compares the results of hip arthroscopy for cam-type femoracetabular impingement in two groups of patients at one year. The study group comprised 24 patients (24 hips) with cam-type femoroacetabular impingement who underwent arthroscopic debridement with excision of their impingement lesion (osteoplasty). The control group comprised 47 patients (47 hips) who had arthroscopic debridement without excision of the impingement lesion. In both groups, the presence of femoroacetabular impingement was confirmed on pre-operative plain radiographs. The modified Harris hip score was used for evaluation pre-operatively and at one-year. Non-parametric tests were used for statistical analysis.

A tendency towards a higher median post-operative modified Harris hip score was observed in the study group compared with the control group (83 vs 77, p = 0.11). There was a significantly higher proportion of patients in the osteoplasty group with excellent/good results compared with the controls (83% vs 60%, p = 0.043). Additional symptomatic improvement may be obtained after hip arthroscopy for femoroacetabular impingement by the inclusion of femoral osteoplasty.

The epidemiological data and intra-operative findings from 260 consecutive arthroscopically-diagnosed acetabular labral tears seen over a ten-year period were analysed. Radiographs of 128 of these patients were assessed for dysplasia using established radiological parameters. Patients with acetabular dysplasia were then compared against those without in order to identify any differences in gender, age, the side of the tear, the pattern of the tear, the number of quadrants involved, the quadrant preference and the prevalence of intra-articular comorbidity. Dysplasia was found in 46% (59 of 128) of the hips. No significant differences existed between the dysplastic and non-dysplastic subgroups as regards gender distribution, the side of the lesion, the number of quadrants involved or the distribution of tears among the quadrants. However, tears associated with dysplasia were diagnosed in an older age group, had a different pattern and were associated with a much higher prevalence of osteoarthritis.

Epidural anaesthesia, with and without opiate, is widely used in total hip arthroplasty (THA). It may cause urinary retention, leading to catheterisation, and a subsequent increase in the likelihood of deep infection. We investigated prospectively the rate of urinary catheterisation in patients after THA performed under general anaesthesia, with or without peri-operative fentanyl and bupivacaine opiate epidural anaesthesia.

Of 173 patients, 75 received general anaesthesia alone and 98 both general and epidural management. The post-operative rate of catheterisation was 14.7% in those who received general anaesthesia alone and 13.3% in those who received both.

Our findings suggest that the rate of post-operative urinary catheterisation does not increase when general anaesthesia is supplemented by epidural anaesthesia using fentanyl and bupivicaine.

Metal-on-metal (MOM) is a commonly used bearing notable for its ‘suction fit’ when lubricated. In this study, we examined the capacity for MOM bearings to protect against dislocation after total hip replacement (THR).

We undertook a clinical investigation to compare the rate of dislocation of MOM bearings with those of ceramic-on-polyethylene (COP) bearings and found that one MOM bearing dislocated in a series of 109 hips (0.9%) compared with nine of 145 hips (6.2%) in the COP group (p = 0.02).

We also performed an in vitro investigation comparing the peak forces generated during forced separation of the two bearings of the same dimensions at velocities from 1 to 50 cm/s. This revealed that the MOM bearing generated significant resistance to separation at all velocities (maximum mean 24 N), whereas the COP did not (maximum mean 1.9 N, p < 0.001). We conclude that MOM bearings are more stable to dislocation than COP bearings as a result of the interfacial forces provided by a thin, lubricating fluid.

We describe a prospective study of 328 patients undergoing arthroscopy of the hip. Arthrography, CT or MRI was performed when clinically indicated. A preoperative diagnosis was reached in 174 patients (53%), while the remaining 154 were diagnosed as having ‘idiopathic hip pain’.

In seven patients, access to the hip was inadequate. Arthroscopy altered the diagnosis in 176 hips (53%). The new primary diagnoses were osteoarthritis (75 patients), osteochondral defects (34), torn labra (23), synovitis (11) and loose bodies (9). In 172 hips (52%) an operative procedure was undertaken. In the remaining 84 patients (26%), arthroscopy neither changed the diagnosis nor provided surgical treatment.

Arthroscopy of the hip is considered to be of value in assessing and treating the adult patient with pain in the hip of uncertain cause.

Although arthroscopy of the hip is being carried out increasingly, little is known about the rate of associated complications. We describe a prospective study of 640 consecutive procedures in which a consistent technique was used. The overall complication rate was 1.6%. Complications, none of which was major or long-term, included transient palsy of the sciatic and femoral nerves, perineal injury, bleeding from the portal wounds, trochanteric bursitis and intra-articular breakage of the instrument. We believe that it is possible to undertake this operation safely using the technique described.

Primary total hip arthroplasty (THA) is one of the most effective ways of improving quality of life (QoL). We have compared the improvement in QoL in 62 patients who had a cemented revision of a THA with that of 62 primary replacements.

One year after operation the median QoL score had been significantly improved in both groups; from 0.870 to 0.990 in the primary group (p < 0.0001) and from 0.870 to 0.980 in the revised group (p < 0.0001). There was no significant difference in the improvement in scores between the groups (p = 0.29).

When reviewed after four years there was no difference in the pain score for either group (p = 0.89), but that for function had deteriorated significantly. This was associated with revision surgery (p = 0.018) and a low preoperative QoL score (p = 0.004).

We conclude that both primary and revision operations give a significant improvement in the QoL but function after revision may be less durable than after a primary arthroplasty.