Accurate placement of the acetabular component during total hip
arthroplasty (THA) is an important factor in the success of the
procedure. However, the reported accuracy varies greatly and is
dependent upon whether free hand or navigated techniques are used.
The aim of this study was to assess the accuracy of an instrument
system that incorporates 3D printed, patient-specific guides designed
to optimise the placement of the acetabular component. A total of 100 consecutive patients were prospectively enrolled
and the accuracy of placement of the acetabular component was measured
using post-operative CT scans.Aims
Patients and Methods
The piriformis muscle is an important landmark
in the surgical anatomy of the hip, particularly the posterior approach
for total hip replacement (THR). Standard orthopaedic teaching dictates
that the tendon must be cut in to allow adequate access to the superior
part of the acetabulum and the femoral medullary canal. However,
in our experience a routine THR can be performed through a posterior
approach without sacrificing this tendon. We dissected the proximal femora of 15 cadavers in order to clarify
the morphological anatomy of the piriformis tendon. We confirmed
that the tendon attaches on the crest of the greater trochanter,
in a position superior to the trochanteric fossa, away from the
entry point for broaching the intramedullary canal during THR. The
tendon attachment site encompassed the summit and medial aspect
of the greater trochanter as well as a variable attachment to the
fibrous capsule of the hip joint. In addition we dissected seven
cadavers resecting all posterior attachments except the piriformis
muscle and tendon in order to study their relations to the hip joint,
as the joint was flexed. At flexion of 90° the piriformis muscle
lay directly posterior to the hip joint. The piriform fossa is a term used by orthopaedic surgeons to
refer the trochanteric fossa and normally has no relation to the
attachment site of the piriformis tendon. In hip flexion the piriformis
lies directly behind the hip joint and might reasonably be considered
to contribute to the stability of the joint. We conclude that the anatomy of the piriformis muscle is often
inaccurately described in the current surgical literature and terms
are used and interchanged inappropriately. Cite this article:
Femoroacetabular impingement causes groin pain
and decreased athletic performance in active adults. This bony conflict
may result in femoroacetabular subluxation if of sufficient magnitude. The ligamentum teres has recently been reported to be capable
of withstanding tensile loads similar to that of the anterior cruciate
ligament, and patents with early subluxation of the hip may become
dependent on the secondary restraint that is potentially provided
by the ligamentum teres. Rupture of the ligamentum may thus cause
symptomatic hip instability during athletic activities. An arthroscopic reconstruction of the ligamentum teres using
iliotibial band autograft was performed in an attempt to restore
this static stabiliser in a series of four such patients. Early
clinical results have been promising. The indications, technique
and early outcomes of this procedure are discussed.
