Evaluation and management of ischiofemoral impingement: a pathophysiologic, radiologic, and therapeutic approach to a complex diagnosis.

Ischiofemoral impingement syndrome (IFI) is an underrecognized form of atypical, extra-articular hip impingement defined by hip pain related to narrowing of the space between the ischial tuberosity and the femur. The etiology of IFI is multifactorial and potential sources of ischiofemoral engagement include anatomic variants of the proximal femur or pelvis, functional disorders as hip instability, pelvic/spinal instability, or abductor/adductor imbalance, ischial tuberosity enthesopathies, trauma/overuse or extreme hip motion, iatrogenic conditions, tumors and other pathologies. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is the diagnostic procedure of choice for assessing IFI and may substantially influence patient management. The injection test of the ischiofemoral space (IFS) has both a diagnostic and therapeutic function. Endoscopic decompression of the IFS appears useful in improving function and diminishing hip pain in patients with IFI but conservative treatment is always the first step in the treatment algorithm. Because of the ever-increasing use of advanced MRI techniques, the frequent response to conservative treatment, and the excellent outcomes of new endoscopic treatment, radiologists must be aware of factors that predispose or cause IFI. In addition, focused treatment in these conditions is often more important than in secondary impingement. In this article, we briefly describe the anatomy of the IFS, review the clinical examination and symptoms, assess the diagnostic imaging criteria and pathophysiological mechanisms, and develop an understandable classification of IFI, with particular focus on its etiology, predisposing factors, and associated musculoskeletal abnormalities. We also assess the role of the radiologist in the diagnosis, treatment, and preoperative evaluation of both primary and secondary IFI.

26Postoperative diagnosis and outcome in patients with revision arthroplasty for aseptic loosening.

BACKGROUND: The most common cause of implant failure is aseptic loosening (AL), followed by prosthetic joint infection (PJI). This study evaluates the incidence of PJI among patients operated with suspected AL and whether the diagnosis of PJI was predictive of subsequent implant failure including re-infection, at 2 years of follow up. METHODS: Patients undergoing revision hip or knee arthroplasty due to presumed AL from February 2009 to September 2011 were prospectively evaluated. A sonication fluid of prosthesis and tissue samples for microbiology and histopathology at the time of the surgery were collected. Implant failure include recurrent or persistent infection, reoperation for any reason or need for chronic antibiotic suppression. RESULTS: Of 198 patients with pre-and intraoperative diagnosis of AL, 24 (12.1 %) had postoperative diagnosis of PJI. After a follow up of 31 months (IQR: 21 to 38 months), 9 (37.5 %) of 24 patients in the PJI group had implant failure compared to only 1 (1.1 %) in the 198 of AL group (p < 0.0001). Sensitivity of sonicate fluid culture (>20 CFU) and peri-prosthetic tissue culture were 87.5 % vs 66.7 %, respectively. Specificities were 100 % for both techniques (95 % CI, 97.9-100 %). A greater number of patients with PJI (79.1 %) had previous partial arthroplasty revisions than those patients in the AL group (56.9 %) (p = 0.04). In addition, 5 (55.5 %) patients with PJI and implant failure had more revision arthroplasties during the first year after the last implant placement than those patients with PJI without implant failure (1 patient; 6.7 %) (RR 3.8; 95 % CI 1.4-10.1; p = 0.015). On the other hand, 6 (25 %) patients finally diagnosed of PJI were initially diagnosed of AL in the first year after primary arthroplasty, whereas it was only 16 (9.2 %) patients in the group of true AL (RR 2.7; 95 % CI 1.2-6.1; p = 0.03). CONCLUSIONS: More than one tenth of patients with suspected AL are misdiagnosed PJI. Positive histology and positive peri-implant tissue and sonicate fluid cultures are highly predictive of implant failure in patients with PJI. Patients with greater number of partial hip revisions for a presumed AL had more risk of PJI. Early loosening is more often caused by hidden PJI than late loosening.

Deep gluteal syndrome: anatomy, imaging, and management of sciatic nerve entrapments in the subgluteal space.

Deep gluteal syndrome (DGS) is an underdiagnosed entity characterized by pain and/or dysesthesias in the buttock area, hip or posterior thigh and/or radicular pain due to a non-discogenic sciatic nerve entrapment in the subgluteal space. Multiple pathologies have been incorporated in this all-included "piriformis syndrome," a term that has nothing to do with the presence of fibrous bands, obturator internus/gemellus syndrome, quadratus femoris/ischiofemoral pathology, hamstring conditions, gluteal disorders and orthopedic causes. The concept of fibrous bands playing a role in causing symptoms related to sciatic nerve mobility and entrapment represents a radical change in the current diagnosis of and therapeutic approach to DGS. The development of periarticular hip endoscopy has led to an understanding of the pathophysiological mechanisms underlying piriformis syndrome, which has supported its further classification. A broad spectrum of known pathologies may be located nonspecifically in the subgluteal space and can therefore also trigger DGS. These can be classified as traumatic, iatrogenic, inflammatory/infectious, vascular, gynecologic and tumors/pseudo-tumors. Because of the ever-increasing use of advanced magnetic resonance neurography (MRN) techniques and the excellent outcomes of the new endoscopic treatment, radiologists must be aware of the anatomy and pathologic conditions of this space. MR imaging is the diagnostic procedure of choice for assessing DGS and may substantially influence the management of these patients. The infiltration test not only has a high diagnostic but also a therapeutic value. This article describes the subgluteal space anatomy, reviews known and new etiologies of DGS, and assesses the role of the radiologist in the diagnosis, treatment and postoperative evaluation of sciatic nerve entrapments, with emphasis on MR imaging and endoscopic correlation.

Case report and presentation of a new classification system for hip acetabular and periacetabular ossifications and calcifications.

This report describes a rare case in which double calcifications of the acetabular labrum and rectus femoris occurred concomitantly in a middle-aged female patient who was treated successfully with surgical intervention via hip arthroscopy. Contribution: This case highlights the existence of various types of calcifications around the acetabulum, with a proposed new classification system for acetabular and periacetabular rim ossifications.

Hip Chondral Defects: Arthroscopic Treatment With the Needle and Curette Technique and ChondroFiller.

Management of symptomatic focal cartilage defects of the hip can be challenging. Cells, scaffold therapies, and injectable agents have emerged as an adjunctive modality to improve clinical outcomes. Long and malleable needles that can be bent are used to release these kinds of biological products. Distance between the tip of the needle and the area to be filled should be minimal to ensure full contact with the chondral lesion to avoid losing material inside the hip cavity and to increase the efficiency of the release of the product. Nevertheless in many cases the accessibility is not easy, and the distance between the tip of the needle and the area to be treated is such that the efficiency of the release is difficult, if not impossible. We aim to describe a simple, inexpensive, and reproducible technique to facilitate the implantation of biologic and injectable materials in hip chondral defects during arthroscopy: the use of a combination of a curette and a needle inside the tip of the curette. Additionally we describe the use of ChondroFiller liquid, a liquid cell-free collagen matrix, for the treatment of symptomatic full-thickness chondral defects of the hip in a 1-step arthroscopic procedure.

Anatomy, biomechanics, imaging, and management of ligamentum teres injuries.

The ligamentum teres has traditionally been viewed as an embryonic remnant with no role in the biomechanics or vascularity of adult hips. However, the ligamentum teres is a strong intraarticular ligament that is anatomically and biochemically similar to the anterior cruciate ligament of the knee. It is composed of two bands that originate from the acetabular transverse ligament and the pubic and ischial margins of the acetabular notch. Among other functions, the ligamentum teres is an important stabilizer of the hip, particularly in adduction, flexion, and external rotation. Abnormalities of the ligamentum teres account for 4%-15% of sports-related injuries and should be considered in the differential diagnosis of patients with hip pain. Lesions of the ligamentum teres include partial or complete traumatic tears, degenerative tears, avulsion fractures of the ligament at its insertion into the fovea capitis femoris, and a congenital absence of the ligament. Magnetic resonance arthrography and computed tomographic arthrography are the preferred modalities for precise preoperative diagnosis of ligamentum teres injuries and may be used to rule out other associated intraarticular injuries. Treatment of these lesions is still evolving; at present, treatment of most injuries is limited to arthroscopic débridement.

True submalleolar accessory ossicles causing impingement of the ankle.

True ossicle in the distal portion of the malleolus is only sporadically observed, and related disease has been rarely reported. We present two cases of atypical ankle impingement resulting from an ankle sprain. Plain radiographs revealed true submalleolar ossicles. Conservative treatment failed, and arthroscopy was performed. Instability of the ossicle and surrounding fibrotic soft tissue was evident; a gap between the ossicle and the tip of the malleolus seen during plantar flexion of the ankle disappeared in dorsal flexion, resulting in compression of the surrounding soft tissue. Arthroscopic excision of the accessory ossicle relieved the symptoms and enabled both patients to return to full preinjury activities.

Carbon dioxide gas endoscopy of the deep gluteal space.

The treatment of hip and pelvic pain associated with abnormalities of the deep gluteal space has evolved and increasingly involves endoscopic techniques with a saline expansion medium. This investigation presents a surgical technique utilizing carbon dioxide as the insufflation medium for deep gluteal space endoscopy in 17 cadaveric hips. This technique was successful in 94% (16/17) of the hips, allowing for visualization of the sciatic nerve, posterior femoral cutaneous nerve, pudendal nerve, branch of the inferior gluteal artery crossing the sciatic nerve, piriformis muscle, hamstring tendon origin, and lesser trochanter. Our experience suggests that gas expansion presents several advantages over fluid expansion.

Teamwork in hip preservation: the ISHA 2019 Annual Scientific Meeting.

Hip preservation surgery is now an established part of orthopedic surgery and sports medicine. This report describes the key findings of the 11th Annual Scientific Meeting of International Society for Hip Arthroscopy-the International Hip Preservation Society-in Madrid, Spain from 16 to 19 October 2019. Lectures, seminars and debates explored the most up-to-date and expert views on a wide variety of subjects, including: diagnostic problems in groin pain, buttock pain and low back pain; surgical techniques in acetabular dysplasia, hip instability, femoroacetabular impingement syndrome, labral repair and reconstruction, cartilage defects, adolescent hips and gluteus medius and hamstring tears; and new ideas about femoral torsion, hip-spine syndrome, hip capsule surgery, impact of particular sports on hip injuries, registries, robotics and training for hip preservation specialists. Surgeons, sports physicians, radiologists and physiotherapists looking after young people with hip problems have an increasingly sophisticated armoury of ideas and techniques with which to help their patients. The concept of hip preservation has developed incredibly fast over the last decade; now it is clear that the best results can only be achieved by a multidisciplinary team working together. The 2020s will be the decade of 'Teamwork in Hip Preservation'.

Simultaneous Acetabular Labrum Reconstruction and Remplissage of the Femoral Head-Neck Junction.

With the recent increase in the use of hip arthroscopy, revision hip arthroscopy also has become more prevalent; nevertheless, it is often complex, and many factors should be considered to achieve a satisfactory clinical outcome. Labral reconstruction or augmentation technique is used in cases of severely deficient acetabular labral tissue to restore the fluid seal mechanism. In cases of previous over-resection of cam impingement, the remplissage technique, used to restore the bony defect of the femoral head-neck junction and preserve the joint seal, is an established technique that has been recently reported in the hip with the use of iliotibial band with the same aim as in the shoulder, filling in of the defect due to healing of the soft tissue to the underlying bony impression. We aim to describe a labrum reconstruction in combination with a remplissage of the femoral head-neck junction with a dermal graft in a patient with recurrent hip pain after hip scope. This combination may improve hip stability and reduced pain after failed hip scope.

Endoscopic treatment for chronic Achilles tendinopathy.

UNLABELLED: This study presents our experience and results in patients with Achilles tendinopathy treated with an endoscopic technique. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Eight patients with chronic tendinopathy of the Achilles underwent endoscopic treatment. A distal portal is created 2 cm proximal of the lateral margin of the tendon insertion. A slotted cannula is inserted in a proximal direction and toward the midline. A 4.5 mm diameter arthroscope is advanced through the cannula. An additional portal, equidistant to the lateral portal, can be created at the medial distal level if we need to access the most medial and distal part of the tendon. Pathological tissue is eliminated while performing multiple longitudinal tenotomies with a retrograde knife blade. Clinical outcome was assessed according to the Nelen scale. RESULTS: Clinical results were scored as excellent, with all patients able to return to pre-procedure sports activity without limitations. There were no complications in any case. CONCLUSION: Endoscopic treatment yielded satisfactory results with lower morbidity than other reported techniques.

Arthroscopic-assisted reduction and percutaneous external fixation of lateral condyle fractures of the humerus.

Lateral condyle fractures in children are the second most common fracture about the elbow. Anatomic reduction of intra-articular displacement is considered a priority. Most experts agree that the treatment of choice of mildly displaced (>2 mm) lateral condyle fractures is open reduction-internal fixation or intraoperative arthrography followed by closed reduction and percutaneous pinning. In this report we described an alternative approach using closed arthroscopic-assisted reduction. Arthroscopy was performed by use of a 30 degree, 4.5-mm arthroscope through a proximal anteromedial portal with no pump, and a proximal anterolateral portal was created for instrumentation. The fracture line was easily visualized after blood, fibrin, and loose articular debris were irrigated from the joint. The fracture was manually manipulated and reduced by use of a periosteal elevator placed through the proximal anterolateral portal into the fracture and via rotation until there was no step in the articular cartilage. Two lateral Kirschner wires were placed percutaneously, which result in firm fixation of the fracture. We think that the advantages of arthroscopy are further superior to intraoperative arthrography because arthroscopy not only allows for better anatomic reduction and visualization with minimal surgical trauma and less radiation time but also provides a valid diagnostic and treatment alternative for associated injuries.

The current situation in hip arthroscopy.

Hip arthroscopy is an evolving surgical technique that has recently increased in popularity.Although femoroacetabular impingement was an important launch pad for this technique, extra-articular pathology has been described through hip endoscopy.Good clinical results in the medium term will allow improvements in this technique and increase its indications. Cite this article: EFORT Open Rev 2017;2:58-65. DOI: 10.1302/2058-5241.2.150041.

Suture-on-Screw Technique for Os Acetabuli Fixation and Labral Repair.

The os acetabuli is thought to arise from unfused secondary ossification centers or as rim fractures in the setting of dysplastic hips or hips with femoroacetabular impingement. Resection of a large os acetabuli can lead to structural instability of the joint, and in these cases, osteoplasty of the impingement, reduction and internal fixation of the osseous fragment, and labral repair have been described in the literature. Anchor fixation for labral repair in the surrounding zone of the osteosynthesis might bring some technical problems. We aim to describe a technical modification improving labral lesion treatment while addressing the rim fracture. The addition of a suture to the screw addresses both lesions because it simultaneously has the function of a screw and an anchor. A suture-on-screw technique for os acetabuli fixation helps surgeons to gain versatility and is more cost-effective for the patients and health services.

Electrosurgical arthroscopic patellar denervation.

Patellofemoral pain depends on many pathophysiologic factors and may be difficult to manage. It often occurs with no apparent cause in young persons. A new arthroscopic technique based on anatomic and pathophysiologic studies is described here for the treatment of patients with patellofemoral pain and no or minimal malalignment. Nociceptive receptors are richly distributed in the peripatellar soft tissue. We surmised that a thermal lesion to this region would lead to desensitization of the anterior knee area, referred to as patellar denervation. With the leg in maximum extension, the electrocoagulator is inserted through a combined anterointernal and suprapatellar approach to access the entire perimeter of the patella. A simple thermal lesion to the peripatellar soft tissue in the region closest to the patella is enough to obliterate a considerable number of nociceptive receptors. This thermal lesion should not include the region of the patellar tendon because this is an important site of entry for vessels reaching the patella, and injury to these vessels may cause patellar necrosis. Patellar denervation achieved through this simple technique may offer a solution for patients with intractable patellofemoral pain with no evident alterations.

Ankle anatomy for the arthroscopist. Part I: The portals.

Proper portal placement is critical to performing good diagnostic and therapeutic arthroscopy. When the portals are positioned improperly, visualization can be impaired, making diagnosis and treatment more difficult. Three main anterior portals are available in arthroscopy of the ankle: anteromedial, anterolateral, and anterocentral. Posterior portals are also routinely used in ankle arthroscopy and can be established at a posterolateral or posteromedial position or directly through the Achilles tendon. Because of the potential for serious complications, the anterocentral and transAchilles portals are no longer used. Other portals have been described to obtain more complete access, particularly to the posterior compartment of the ankle joint. This work reviews the relationships that exist between the most important anatomic structures and arthroscopic portals of the ankle.

Ankle anatomy for the arthroscopist. Part II: Role of the ankle ligaments in soft tissue impingement.

The biomechanical anatomy of the ankle ligaments continues to be a subject of interest because detailed knowledge of these structures is essential for proper diagnosis and treatment of the injuries affecting them. Lesions to the ankle ligaments are one of the most common sports injuries and the origin of soft tissue impingement syndrome. Together with the ligaments of the tibiofibular syndesmosis, two large ligamentous complexes are the main static stabilizers of the ankle joint: the lateral collateral ligament and the medial collateral (or deltoid) ligament. This article provides an anatomic description of the various ligaments of the ankle joint, with particular emphasis on specific anatomic details that are often omitted or little known and that have considerable clinical interest because of their involvement in soft tissue syndrome.

Transosseous Acetabular Labral Repair as an Alternative to Anchors.

Labral tears are the most common pathology in patients undergoing hip arthroscopy and the most common cause of mechanical hip symptoms. Labral repair techniques have been described in the literature using suture anchors placed as close as possible to the acetabular rim without penetrating the articular surface. Optimal surgical technique for labral repair is very important, and an inappropriate entry point and guide angulation may lead to intra-articular penetration of the anchor, chondral damage, anchor loosening, or inadequate fixation. A shallow dysplastic hip, the drilling trajectory, the narrow width of the acetabular rim, or some specific anatomic variations may generate difficulty during anchor placement. Suture anchors themselves have been associated with several significant complications, including rim fracture, osteolysis, enlargement of drill holes, and infection. The treatment of labral lesions with transosseous suture is an alternative to anchor use, eliminating the need for anchors and avoiding anchor-associated complications. This technique offers versatility to surgeons and is more cost-effective for patients and health services. We aim to describe the indications and technique for transosseous labral repair without anchors.

Emerging topics on the hip: ligamentum teres and hip microinstability.

Microinstability and ligament teres lesions are emergent topics on the hip pathology. These entities are an increasingly recognized cause of persistent hip pain and should be considered in the differential diagnosis of the patient with hip pain. Conventional (non-arthrographic) CT and MR have a very limited role in the evaluation of these entities. CTa and MRa have emerged as the modalities of choice for pre-operative imaging of ligamentum teres injuries and microinstability. To date, pre-operative imaging detection of these pathologies is not widespread but with appropriate imaging and a high index of suspicion, preoperative detection should improve. This article discusses current concepts regarding anatomy, biomechanics, clinical findings, diagnosis and treatment of ligament teres lesions and microinstability.

The ligamentum capitis femoris: anatomic, magnetic resonance and computed tomography study.

The objective of the study was to describe the normal anatomy of the ligamentum capitis femoris and to determine the neurovascular structures potentially at risk during its reconstruction. Ten cadaveric specimens of the ligamentum capitis femoris (LCF) were dissected and photographed. Magnetic resonance (MR) and Computed tomography (CT) arthrography evaluation of the anatomy of the LCF in 30 hips were performed to measure length of the ligament and to study the proximity of neurovascular structures. The anatomical study showed that the LCF has a pyramidal structure and a banded appearance. The thickness of the medial wall of the acetabulum 3 mm superior to the inferior acetabular boundary was found to be 6.7 mm (4-9 mm) at point 1 (anterior), 4.1 mm (3-7 mm) at point 2 (central), and 6.5 mm (4-9 mm) at point 3 (posterior). Central anchors or screws were found to lie within 1.7 cm (1.6-1.9 cm) of the external iliac vein and artery. Angulation of anchors in the anterior and posterior columns in the axial plane with respect to acetabular fossa floor (the Optimal Angulation Angle or OAA), is safer (0 to 45º the safest optimal angles). The sagittal angulation created by the safe pathway in the anterior and posterior columns with respect to the plane of the facies lunata in this area was also measured and termed the Optimal Angle of Penetration (OAP) with normal values being: 110º (102-123º) for the posterior column and 90º (85-94º) for the anterior column. Our results suggest that reconstruction of the LCF can be safely performed if these guidelines are followed.