Platelet-Rich Plasma Versus Surgery for the Management of Recalcitrant Greater Trochanteric Pain Syndrome: A Systematic Review.

PURPOSE: To perform a systematic review of the outcomes of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections as an in-office procedure versus surgical treatment for recalcitrant greater trochanteric pain syndrome (GTPS). METHODS: The MEDLINE and Embase databases were searched in June 2019 following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses statement. Clinical studies on patients with recalcitrant GTPS treated with PRP or surgery were included. Demographic characteristics, patient-reported outcomes (PROs), and complications were compared. A qualitative analysis using the Methodological Index for Non-randomized Studies and Cochrane Risk of Bias Tool scores was performed. RESULTS: A total of 5 PRP and 5 surgery studies met the inclusion criteria, contributing 94 and 185 patients, respectively. The mean follow-up time was shorter for the PRP studies (range, 2-26 months) than with surgery (range, 12-70 months). The mean Methodological Index for Non-randomized Studies scores for the PRP and surgery groups were 11.25 and 11.4, respectively, and the only randomized trial had a low risk of bias. Two studies in the PRP group (n = 56) reported improvements in the modified Harris Hip Score at final follow-up (from 53.8 to 82.6 and from 56.7 to 74.2). The other PRP studies reported improvements using other measures. In the surgery group, 2 studies reported improvements in the Harris Hip Score (from 53.0 to 80 and from 53.3 to 88) whereas 3 used unique PROs (Oxford score, from 20.4 to 37.3; modified Harris Hip Score, from 54.9 to 76.2; and Merle d'Aubigné and Postel score, from 10.9 to 16.7). Although significant improvement was reported in all studies included, PRP showed a large effect size whereas surgery showed a moderate to large effect size. No major complications were associated with PRP treatment; however, the surgery group reported a higher rate of complications including recurrent external snapping hip, retears resulting from falls, trochanteric fracture, venous thrombosis, and wound-related problems. CONCLUSIONS: Both PRP and surgical intervention for the treatment of recalcitrant GTPS showed statistically and clinically significant improvements based on PROs. Although not covered by most medical insurance companies, PRP injections for recalcitrant GTPS provides an effective and safe alternative after failed physical therapy. If surgery is indicated, endoscopy is safer than the open technique. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level IV, systematic review of Level I to IV studies.

Patients undergoing hip arthroscopy with active workers' compensation claims do not demonstrate inferior outcomes at mid-term.

INTRODUCTION: Workers' compensation (WC) claims have been associated with poor short-term outcomes after hip arthroscopy. We aim to report mid-term outcomes and return to work (RTW) among patients with WC claims. METHODS: Data were prospectively collected and retrospectively reviewed for patients undergoing hip arthroscopy between September 2008 and July 2011. Inclusion criteria were an active WC claim at time of surgery with preoperatively-documented patient-reported outcomes (PROs). Exclusion criteria were a previous hip condition and preoperative Tönnis grade >1. Patient-reported WC cases were pair-matched to non-WC cases based on body mass index (BMI) ± 5, age ± 5 years, gender, preoperative LCEA, labral treatment, and capsular treatment. RESULTS: 52 patients had minimum 5-year outcomes. Mean age was 40.6 (±10.6) years and a mean BMI of 27.5 (±5.3). 9 (16.7%) hips underwent secondary arthroscopies. 5 hips (9.3%) were converted to THA. There were 5 (9.3%) reports of numbness, all of which resolved spontaneously. Work status details were available for 49 patients and 47 patients (95.9%) returned to work. 42 WC hips were matched to 42 control hips. At ⩾5-year follow-up, patient-reported outcomes, visual analogue scale (VAS) and satisfaction were not different between the groups. All magnitudes in improvement were significantly higher in the WC group (p = < 0.001) except for VAS. No significant differences were found in rates of secondary arthroscopies, conversions to THA, or complications between the groups. CONCLUSIONS: WC patients have equal favourable mid-term outcomes as non-WC patients after hip arthroscopy for the treatment of femoroacetabular impingement and labral pathology.

Relationship Between Age at Onset of Symptoms and Intraoperative Findings in Hip Arthroscopic Surgery.

BACKGROUND: Hip arthroscopic surgery is intended to treat multiple abnormalities in an effort to delay the progression to osteoarthritis, especially in young patients. However, the length of time in which patients experience joint pain before seeking a specialist for a diagnosis can delay hip preservation surgery and influence clinical outcomes. PURPOSE: To investigate the relationship between age at symptom onset and findings during hip arthroscopic surgery as well as outcomes after 2 years of clinical follow-up. STUDY DESIGN: Cohort study; Level of evidence, 3. METHODS: From February 2008 to March 2015, data were prospectively collected on all patients undergoing hip arthroscopic surgery at a single institution. Anatomic and pathological characteristics were recorded intraoperatively. The mean age at onset of symptoms was calculated and correlated with intraoperative findings using Pearson correlation and logistic regression. All patients were assessed preoperatively and postoperatively with 4 patient-reported outcome measures: the modified Harris Hip Score (mHHS), the Non-Arthritic Hip Score (NAHS), the Hip Outcome Score-Activities of Daily Living (HOS-ADL), and the Hip Outcome Score-Sport-Specific Subscale (HOS-SSS). Pain was estimated using a visual analog scale (VAS). Furthermore, patients with an age at onset of symptoms below the mean (34.6 years) were compared with those of an age at onset of symptoms above the mean. The 2 groups were compared using the Student t test and the chi-square test. P values <.05 were considered significant. RESULTS: A total of 1697 patients met the inclusion criteria. Body mass index was weakly correlated with age (r = 0.3). Younger patients had a lower prevalence of combined Seldes type 1 and 2 labral tears; acetabular labrum articular disruption (ALAD) grade 2, 3, and 4 acetabular chondral lesions; and Outerbridge grade 2, 3, and 4 femoral head chondral lesions (P < .05 for all). More advanced age was correlated with wider labral tears and chondral lesions based on a clock face (r ≥ 0.2, P < .05). Patients younger than 34.6 years had a lower prevalence of gluteus medius and ligamentum teres tears (P ≤ .001). The prevalence of synovitis was positively correlated with age, while instability was negatively correlated with age (P = .04). The improvement of scores from preoperatively to 2-year follow-up in the younger patient group was 62.69 to 83.82 for the mHHS, 64.97 to 87.35 for the HOS-ADL, 43.46 to 73.37 for the HOS-SSS, 63.01 to 85.19 for the NAHS, and 5.61 to 2.53 for pain VAS. All score improvements were statistically significant (P < .001). Regarding the older patient group, the improvement of scores from preoperatively to 2-year follow-up was 58.55 to 78.27 for the mHHS, 57.59 to 79.66 for the HOS-ADL, 35.63 to 61.88 for the HOS-SSS, 55.28 to 77.55 for the NAHS, and 5.72 to 3.01 for pain VAS. All score improvements were statistically significant (P < .001). CONCLUSION: Of the multiple intraoperative findings in hip arthroscopic surgery, many are related to age at onset of symptoms. Although we found a statistically significant improvement in clinical outcomes in both groups after 2-year follow-up, apparently the less complex and smaller lesions observed in both the articular cartilage and the labrum of younger patients result in better outcomes compared with older patients.

Acetabular Chondral Lesions in Hip Arthroscopy: Relationships Between Grade, Topography, and Demographics.

BACKGROUND: Hip pain remains a challenge given the multiple factors that can cause damage to the articular cartilage, such as traumatic injury, metabolic damage, and morphologic variations such as femoroacetabular impingement (FAI) and that can contribute to progression of osteoarthritis. However, a direct relationship between patient characteristics, the extent of acetabular chondral damage, and topologic characteristics of chondral lesions has not been established. PURPOSE: To compare the grade of acetabular chondral damage, measured in terms of acetabular labrum articular disruption (ALAD) classification, to the size and position of the chondral lesions, matching patients' demographic factors such as age and body mass index (BMI). STUDY DESIGN: Cross-sectional study; Level of evidence, 3. METHODS: This study included all hip arthroscopies performed by the corresponding author from August 7, 2008, to November 19, 2014, in which acetabular chondral lesions were intraoperatively identified and measured in terms of ALAD grade, clockface location, and size. Bivariate analyses and multiple logistic regression were used to identify the demographic factors, characteristics of the acetabular chondral lesion, and other anatomic characteristics that were related to the ALAD grade of the acetabular chondral lesion. RESULTS: Acetabular chondral lesions were measured in 1502 patients during the study period. Multivariate analysis showed that higher ALAD grade of acetabular chondral damage was significantly related to male sex, more advanced age, the area of the acetabular chondral lesion, anterior extension of the acetabular chondral lesion within the anterosuperior quadrant, labral detachment from the acetabular cartilage, and posterior extension of the labral tear. CONCLUSION: Higher grades of acetabular chondral damage were related to male sex, increased age, height, weight, BMI, and the size of the lesion. Chondral lesions were generally found in the anterosuperior region of the acetabulum, consistent with labral lesions and the weightbearing area of the acetabulum.