Anterior knee pain patients without structural knee abnormalities and normal lower limb skeletal alignment have a higher prevalence of cam-femoroacetabular impingement syndrome than the general population.

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to ascertain the prevalence of cam femoroacetabular impingement syndrome (cam-FAIS) in anterior knee pain (AKP) patients devoid of both structural patellofemoral joint abnormalities and lower limb skeletal malalignment. A secondary objective was to examine pain and disability differences between AKP patients with and without cam-FAIS. METHODS: A total of 209 AKP patients were screened for eligibility. Inclusion criteria were normal imaging studies and normal lower limb alignment, and exclusion criteria were previous knee surgery and knee and/or hip osteoarthritis. Of those, 49 (23.4%) were eligible and this number matched a previous power analysis to detect statistically significant differences in prevalence of cam-FAIS in a population of AKP patients. The first step in the study sequence was to ask the patient whether they had groin pain. If so, the impingement test was done. Then, the femoral cam morphology defined by an alpha angle greater than or equal to 55° in a 45° Dunn axial view of the hip was ruled out. Additionally, patients completed Kujala and International Knee Documentation Committee (IKDC) functional knee scores for disability assessment. General population control group was obtained from literature. RESULTS: The study included 9 males and 40 females, with an average age of 36 (20-50, ±SD 8.03) years. Groin pain and positive impingement test were found in 26/49 patients (53%). An alpha angle ≥55° was observed in 35/49 patients (71%). A combination of groin pain, positive impingement test and an alpha angle ≥55° was seen in 18/49 patients (37%). The AKP patients with groin pain, a positive impingement test and an alpha angle ≥55° exhibited statistically similar pain and disability levels as AKP patients without cam-FAIS. CONCLUSION: The results of this study suggest that AKP patients without structural abnormalities in the patellofemoral joint and without lower limbs malalignment have a statistically significantly higher prevalence of cam-FAIS than the general population. Moreover, AKP patients with cam-FAIS have a statistically similar degree of pain and disability than AKP patients without it. STUDY DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: IV.

Hip arthroscopy is an effective treatment for high-level female athletes.

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to assess the outcomes of hip arthroscopic surgery in high-level female athletes diagnosed with femoroacetabular impingement (FAI) compared to those with lower levels of sports activity. Additionally, we investigated the effectiveness of patient-reported outcomes (PROs) and the potential ceiling effect as a lack of sensitivity in detecting clinically statistically significant changes in high-level female athletes due to high baseline scores. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective analysis of prospectively collected data from female patients who underwent hip arthroscopy for FAI between January 2016 and August 2022 with a minimum 1-year follow-up. Patients were categorised into two groups: high-level athletes (group A) and low sports activity level (group B). Various PROs, visual analogue scales for pain, and patient satisfaction were assessed preoperatively and postoperatively. Return to sports (RTS) rates were determined based on the patient's reported ability to return to their previous level of sports activity. The minimally clinically important differences (MCIDs) and the Patient-Acceptable Symptomatic State (PASS) analyses were used to evaluate the clinical impact of the Hip Outcome Score-Sport Subscale (HOS-SSS). RESULTS: A total of 11 high-level female athletes were included in group A, and 22 were included in the low sports activity level group B. Both groups showed significant improvements in PROs, with no significant differences between them. RTS rates were lower in high-level athletes (63.6%) than in low sports activity patients (85.7%). Visual analogue scales for pain improved significantly in both groups. Patient satisfaction was high in both groups, with a median score of 9. The HOS-SSS showed no ceiling effect, and the MCID and PASS analyses indicated that a high proportion of patients in both groups achieved clinically relevant improvement in HOS-SSS. CONCLUSION: Hip arthroscopic surgery is effective for FAI treatment in high-level female athletes, with outcomes similar to those in patients with lower sports activity levels. The absence of a ceiling effect in sports-related outcomes suggests that PROs can detect clinically significant changes in high-level female athletes. Although RTS rates were lower in high-level athletes, this difference was not significant. These findings underscore the value of using PROs to evaluate outcomes in female athletes with different sports-activity levels. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: IV.

Labral reconstruction with polyurethane implant.

Surgical treatment of labral injuries has shifted from debridement to preservation over the past decades. Primary repair and secondary augmentation or reconstruction techniques are aimed at restoring the labral seal and preserving or improving contact mechanics. Currently, the standard of care for non-repairable tears favours the use of auto- or allografts. As an alternative, we present our initial experience using a synthetic, off-the-shelf polyurethane scaffold for augmentation and reconstruction of segmental labral tissue loss or irreparable labral damage. Three patients aged 37-44 (two male, one female) with femoroacetabular impingement without associated dysplasia (Wiberg > 25°) or osteoarthritis (Tönnis <2) were included in this series. Labral reconstruction (one case) and augmentation (two cases) were performed using a synthetic polyurethane scaffold developed for meniscal substitution (Actifit®, Orteq Ltd, London, UK) and adapted to the hip. Clinical results were analysed with patient-reported outcomes (PROMs) using non-arthritic hip score (NAHS) and daily live activities hip outcome score (DLA HOS) and magnetic resonance images (MRI) at 2- and 4-year follow-up. Clinically improvement was seen in all PROMs at 4 years. The NAHS scores improved from 57.7 to 82.3 (50.9% improvement) and HOS from 59 to 79.3 (35.3% improvement). Last follow-up MRIs confirmed the presence of the scaffold; however, the scaffold signal was still hyperintense compared to native labrum. There was no shrinkage in any scaffold and no progression to hip osteoarthritis seen. Reconstruction or augmentation of segmental labral defects with a polyurethane scaffold may be an effective procedure. At 4 years after implantation, our small cases series resulted in improved hip joint function, reduced pain and scaffold preservation on follow-up imaging.

The case of 'A Rhino Horn': case report and proposal for modification to the Hetsroni and Kelly classification.

Subspine impingement syndrome by definition involves a prominent antero-inferior iliac spine (AIIS) which can lead to impingement on the femoral neck thereby causing symptoms. We present the case of a 22-year-old semi-professional athlete who presented with a Type III AIIS morphology leading to subspine impingement syndrome and was managed via a mini open anterior approach. Radiological examination revealed a fairly prominent left AIIS resembling the 'horn of a rhino' extending to the trochanteric region anteriorly. A mini-anterior surgical approach was utilized for the resection of the 'rhino horn' and the rectus femoris was reattached. The patient remained asymptomatic at the one-year follow-up and had resumed weightlifting. Following this case, we propose a new classification of the type III AIIS morphology in view of the clinical presentation. The AIIS type III-Standard represents an extension from the acetabular rim to less than 1 cm (type III-S) and type III-Large, with an extension from the acetabular rim beyond 1 cm (type III-L). The type III-L will further be divided into two groups based on its relation to the ilium, type III-Lr ('rib shape') and type III-Lrh ('rhino horn').

Non-surgical treatment as the first step to manage peritrochanteric space disorders.

PURPOSE: Greater trochanter pain syndrome (GTPS) or lateral hip pain terms include external snapping hip, trochanteric bursitis and gluteus medius or minimus pathology. The aim of this review is to update the most recent knowledge about non-surgical management of peritrochanteric disorders. METHODS: A literature review was performed including articles most relevant in the last years that were focused in non-surgical treatment of peritrochanteric disorders. RESULTS: Conservative treatment still has a place and includes activity modification, NSAIDs, analgesics, physiotherapy, home training, local corticosteroid injection (CSI) and shock wave therapy (SWT). These non-surgical alternatives have demonstrated good clinical results with low rate of complications. CONCLUSION: Most patients tend to resolve GTPS or lateral hip pain with non-surgical management in the mid-term but when everything failed, surgical options should be evaluated. The next frontier that will be a game changer is to determine an individualized treatment plan based on the exact pathology. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: V.

Partial meniscus substitution with a polyurethane scaffold does not improve outcome after an open-wedge high tibial osteotomy.

PURPOSE: The aim of the study was to determine whether medial meniscal substitution with a polyurethane scaffold (Actifit(®)) improves the outcome of medial meniscal-deficient varus knees undergoing open-wedge high tibial osteotomy. METHODS: Sixty patients with symptomatic varus knees those who underwent open-wedge high tibial osteotomies were prospectively studied. In 30 patients, the medial meniscus was left with a defect larger than 25 mm (Group M). An Actifit(®) device was implanted (Group A) in the remaining 30 patients. Patients were functionally evaluated with WOMET, IKDC and VAS. Patient satisfaction was graded from 0 (not satisfied) to 4 (very satisfied). RESULTS: Both groups were comparable preoperatively. They had similar follow-up periods (31.2 months; range 24-47.5; n.s.). WOMET improved a mean of 53.4 ± 8.4 and 42.4 ± 17.2 points in Groups M and A, respectively (p = 0.002). IKDC improved a mean of 56.7 ± 12 and 50.3 ± 15.6 points in Groups M and A, respectively (n.s.). VAS dropped 5.9 ± 2.1 and 4.7 ± 2.8 points in Groups M and A, respectively (p = 0.006). Patient satisfaction averaged 3.3 ± 0.8 and 3.3 ± 1 in Groups M and A, respectively (n.s.). CONCLUSIONS: Patients with symptomatic varus knees were treated with open-wedge high tibial osteotomies, and a meniscectomy was improved more at short-term follow-up in most of the evaluated functional scores than those patients with concomitant implantation of a medial Actifit(®) implant. However, there was no difference in terms of patient satisfaction with the procedure. Based on the short-term functional results of this study, no data were provided to support medial meniscal substitution with a polyurethane scaffold when an open-wedge high tibial osteotomy is being performed. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Prospective comparative study, Level II.

[Study of the feasibility of lateral meniscal repair including the popliteal tendon with a knee simulator]. / Estudio de la viabilidad de la reparación meniscal lateral incluyendo el tendón poplíteo con simulador de rodilla.

BACKGROUND: Although the indications for lateral meniscal repair are well established, some aspects are still controversial. The classic recommendation is to avoid going through the popliteal tendon with sutures, even though this is at times difficult to achieve. The purpose of this paper was to assess the feasibility of a meniscal repair that included the popliteal tendon. METHODS: To this end, nine human fresh frozen knees were used, in which a bucket handle lesion of the lateral meniscus was inflicted. The knees were divided into three groups: Group A (control): meniscal repair was performed with 5 vertical sutures, 2 posterior and 3 anterior to the popliteal fossa; Group B: one stitch was added between the lateral meniscus and the popliteal tendon, and Group C: the additional stitch included the meniscus, the popliteal tendon and the articular capsule. In all cases a lateral condyle osteotomy was performed to access the lateral compartment of the knee. Once the osteotomy had been fixed, the knees underwent 1000 gait cycles and a rotational test using an experimental gait simulator. Then a macroscopic assessment of the meniscal repair and the popliteal tendon was performed. RESULTS: No differences were seen in the previous situation in any of the groups. CONCLUSIONS: In this experimental model the repair of the lateral meniscus including the popliteal tendon did not seem to have any repercussions on suture viability.