Publication Rates of Podium Presentations at an Annual Orthopedic Surgery Resident and Fellow Research Symposium.

Introduction Research is an important aspect of residency and fellowship programs across the country. Developing strategies to foster research productivity is worthwhile. An annual research project is one strategy that some programs implement. Methods All resident and fellow (Sports Medicine, Adult Reconstruction, Spine) presentations at an orthopedic surgery department's annual research symposium from June 2016 through June 2021 were identified. Abstract titles, title keywords, and author names were searched in PubMed and Google Scholar to identify the presence of a peer-reviewed publication. Using the total number of research symposium presentations given, the publication rate was calculated for each year, as well as collectively for 2016 to 2021. In addition to publication rate, first author percent, number of citations, Altmetric score, and journal impact factor were recorded. Current PGY-2 through PGY-5 residents completed a survey to assess the perceived value of the annual research symposium. Results Ninety-eight research symposium presentations were reviewed (69 residents, 29 fellows). Forty (58%) resident studies were published and 28 were first-author publications (70%). Thirteen (45%) fellow studies were published and seven were first-author publications (54%). Combining residents and fellows, the overall publication rate was 54% (53/98), and 66% of these (35/53) were first-author publications. There was a wide range of published manuscript journal impact factors, Altmetric scores, and number of citations. All residents surveyed reported finding value in the research symposium. Conclusion The overall publication rate of presentations at an annual orthopedic surgery department research symposium between 2016 and 2021 was 54%, consistent with publication rates reported at National Orthopedic Surgery Society meetings. All residents reported finding value in the annual research symposium. The results of this study support the academic value of implementing a required annual research project and may provide a useful gauge to inform residency and fellowship curricula at other institutions.

Post-operative protein supplementation following orthopaedic surgery: A systematic review.

Decreased mechanical loading after orthopaedic surgery predisposes patients to develop muscle atrophy. The purpose of this review was to assess whether the evidence supports oral protein supplementation can help decrease postoperative muscle atrophy and/or improve patient outcomes following orthopaedic surgery. A systematic review was conducted according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA). PubMed (MEDLINE), Embase, Scopus, and Web of Science were searched for randomized controlled trials that assessed protein or amino acid supplementation in patients undergoing orthopaedic surgery. Two investigators independently conducted the search using relevant Boolean operations. Primary outcomes included functional or physiologic measures of muscle atrophy or strength. Fourteen studies including 611 patients (224 males, 387 females) were analyzed. Three studies evaluated protein supplementation after ACL reconstruction (ACLR), 3 after total hip arthroplasty (THA), 5 after total knee arthroplasty (TKA), and 3 after surgical treatment of hip fracture. Protein supplementation showed beneficial effects across all types of surgery. The primary benefit was a decrease in muscle atrophy compared to placebo as measured by muscle cross sectional area. Multiple authors also demonstrated improved functional measures and quicker achievement of rehabilitation benchmarks. Protein supplementation has beneficial effects on mitigating muscle atrophy in the postoperative period following ACLR, THA, TKA, and surgical treatment of hip fracture. These effects often correlate with improved functional measures and quicker achievement of rehabilitation benchmarks. Further research is needed to evaluate long-term effects of protein supplementation and to establish standardized population-specific regimens that maximize treatment efficacy in the postoperative period.

A High Incidence of Perineal Post-Related Complications After Hip Arthroscopy Is Self-Reported by Patients in Anonymous Online Forums.

Purpose: To evaluate online, self-reported pudendal nerve or perineal injuries related to the use of a perineal post during hip arthroscopy. Methods: Public posts on Reddit and the Health Organization for Pudendal Education were searched to identify anonymous individuals reporting symptoms of pudendal nerve or perineal injury following hip arthroscopy. Included posts were by any individual with a self-reported history of hip arthroscopy who developed symptoms of pudendal nerve injury or damage to the perineal soft tissues. Demographic information and details about a person's symptoms and concerns were collected from each post. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze the data. Results: Twenty-three online posts reported on a perineal post-related complication following hip arthroscopy. Sex information was available in 16 (70%) posts (8 male, 8 female). Twenty-two posts reported a sensory injury, and 4 posts reported a motor injury with sexual consequences (sexual dysfunction, dyspareunia, impotence). Symptom duration was available in 15 (65%) posts (8 temporary, 7 permanent). Permanent symptoms included paresthesia of the perineum or genitals (7) and sexual complaints (5). Two posts stated they were counseled preoperatively about the possibility of this injury. Zero patients reported that a postless hip arthroscopy alternative was an option made available to them before surgery. Conclusions: A high incidence of permanent pudendal nerve, perineal skin, and genitourinary/sexual complications are self-reported and discussed online by patients who have undergone post-assisted hip arthroscopy. These patients report being uninformed and undereducated about the possibility of sustaining a post-related complication. No patient reported being informed of postless hip arthroscopy preoperatively. Clinical Relevance: Identifying and evaluating self-reported patient information in online medical forums can provide important information about patient experiences and outcomes.

Editorial Commentary: Long-Term Follow-up After Endoscopic Gluteal Repair Plus Hip Arthroscopy Shows Durable Results Using Validated Patient-Reported Outcome Scores That Largely Exceed the Minimal Clinically Important Difference and Patient Acceptable Symptom State.

Gluteus medius and minimus tendon pathology is a common cause of lateral hip pain. In patients who are dissatisfied with their hip condition following nonsurgical treatment, gluteal repair has demonstrated excellent short-, mid-, and, now recently, long-term subjective patient-reported and objective clinician-measured outcomes. In patients with peritrochanteric hip pain, the proportion of their overall hip pain may be influenced by the hip joint due to conditions like femoroacetabular impingement syndrome, acetabular dysplasia, labral tears, and arthritis. Thus, surgical decision-making must include consideration of also addressing the joint at the same time as the gluteal repair. This is sometimes challenging due to the high frequency of observing labral injuries and cam/pincer/dysplasia morphology in patients without symptoms due to the "radiographic abnormalities." Labral pathology is also more prevalent in older patients, who happen to also be those individuals with symptomatic gluteal tendon pain. Both open and endoscopic approaches to the gluteal tendons have advantages and disadvantages without significant outcomes differences in the short- or mid-term. Long-term clinical follow-up of patients treated with endoscopic gluteal repair with or without concomitant hip arthroscopy should be included in large national and international prospective registries using validated, reliable, and responsive patient-reported outcome scores, with clinical importance assessed using the minimal clinically important difference, patient acceptable symptom state, substantial clinical benefit, and maximal outcome improvement.

Editorial Commentary: Artificial Intelligence Analysis of Biomedical, Large, Clinical Registry Data Using Machine Learning Requires Tens of Thousands of Subjects and a Focus on Substantial Clinical Benefit: Minimal Clinically Important Difference Is too Low a Bar.

As the field of arthroscopic hip preservation surgery grows, large high-quality registries represent a foundational study design for establishing whether hip arthroscopy is effective for patients with femoroacetabular impingement syndrome (FAIS). Original research publications from experienced high-volume surgeons tell us "Can it work". A registry tells us "Does it work?". The ability of preservation to truly preserve the joint, delay the arthritis process, and reduce the risk of arthroplasty requires long-term follow-up. A geographic registry can follow this. The registry represents the "real world", a heterogeneous set of variables pertaining to the doctor, patient, intervention, and outcome. The vast array of factors that can be analyzed before, during, and after surgery makes machine learning an ideal technique for analysis of large quantities of data. A global hip preservation surgery registry is a desirable and achievable goal. In order to optimally predict outcome of hip arthroscopy, given the known large number of patient- and hip-specific factors that influence outcomes, a deep learning model with tens of thousands of subjects for this medium-scale task would be needed. Measures of clinical relevance need to include more than just MCID (minimal clinically important difference), which is the lowest bar minimal threshold. Patient expectations often far exceed MCID-requiring other metrics like SCB (substantial clinical benefit), PASS (patient acceptable symptom state), and MOI (maximal outcome improvement). Registries should include validated, reliable, and responsive patient-reported outcome scores (e.g., International Hip Outcome Tool [iHOT-12]) with measures of clinical relevance and expectations assessed routinely. The United Kingdom's NAHR (Non-Arthroplasty Hip Registry) and Denmark's DHAR (Danish Hip Arthroscopy Registry) are the two largest geography-based registries in current hip preservation research both with 11 years of patient enrollment.

Microfracture of Acetabular Chondral Lesions Is Not Superior to Other Cartilage Repair Techniques in Patients With Femoroacetabular Impingement Syndrome: A Systematic Review.

PURPOSE: To perform a systematic review to compare clinical outcomes of hip arthroscopy patients undergoing microfracture (MFx) versus other cartilage repair procedures for chondral lesions of the acetabulum. METHODS: A systematic review was conducted according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines by searching PubMed, the Cochrane Library, and Embase to identify comparative studies that directly compared outcomes between MFx and other cartilage repair procedures for full-thickness chondral lesions of the acetabulum identified during hip arthroscopy. The search phrase used was: hip AND arthroscopy AND microfracture. Patients were evaluated based on reoperation rates and patient-reported outcomes. RESULTS: Six studies (all Level III evidence) met inclusion criteria, including a total of 202 patients undergoing microfracture (group A) and 327 patients undergoing another cartilage repair procedure (group B). Mean patient age ranged from 35.0 to 45.0 years. Mean follow-up time ranged from 12.0 to 72.0 months. Significantly better patient-reported outcomes (PROs) were found in patients undergoing treatment with bone marrow aspirate concentrate, microfragmented adipose tissue concentrate, autologous matrix-induced chondrogenesis, and a combination of autologous matrix-induced chondrogenesis and bone marrow aspirate concentrate compared with MFx. No studies found significantly better postoperative PROs in group A. The reoperation rate ranged from 0% to 34.6% in group A and 0% to 15.9% in group B. Three of 5 studies reporting on reoperation rate found a significantly greater reoperation rate in group A, with no difference in the other 2 studies. CONCLUSIONS: The literature on MFx of acetabular chondral lesions is limited and heterogeneous. Based on the available data, MFx alone results in a greater or equivalent reoperation rate and inferior or equivalent PROs compared with other cartilage repair procedures for acetabular chondral lesions in patients with femoroacetabular impingement syndrome. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level III, systematic review of level III studies.

Evaluation and Management of the Athlete's Hip.

Hip and groin pain is common in athletes, and there are many possible underlying pathologies. It is important to describe athletic hip pathology in the context of sport-specific physiologic loads and biomechanical demands. Three distinct types of athletes with this pathology are collision athletes, hypermobility athletes, and endurance athletes. Although there is considerable overlap between sports, athletes with hip pain should always be evaluated in the context of their sport. Understanding the effect of sport-specific biomechanical demands may help with both diagnosis and treatment of athletic hip pathology; however, each athlete's injury should be analyzed on an individual basis.

Editorial Commentary: Femoral Version and Capsular Thickness Analysis in Hip Preservation Surgery-Surgical Indications Are as Important as Surgical Technique.

Optimal treatment of patients with femoroacetabular impingement syndrome requires both thoughtful decision-making and skillful operative technique. Traditional evidence-based literature and routine clinical practice overemphasize the role of the alpha angle on the femoral side and lateral center edge angle on the acetabular side. Femoral and acetabular version are critical values that influence outcomes and warrant measurement and consideration. Without version analysis, an uniformed, possibly poor, decision may be made. The literature and clinical practice also place dichotomous emphasis on labral (torn/intact) and capsular (torn/intact) integrity, with minimal appreciation of the morphological details of both. Not all capsules are created equal. "Normal" capsule thickness is a nebulous concept, with thinner anterior capsules more prone to anterior instability. Intuitively, it biomechanically stands to reason that excessive femoral anteversion (and excessive anterior cranial and central acetabular version) would place additional stress on the anterior capsule. Excessive femoral anteversion is associated with a thinner anterior capsule. Whether the latter is a reactive process (implies causation) or simply 2 concordant metrics (only correlation) has yet to be determined. In patients with nonarthritic hip pain, comprehensive quantitative consideration of both femoral and acetabular version and capsular thickness determines the optimal hip preservation procedure. Surgical indications are as important as surgical technique.

#Scoliosis: an analysis of patient perception of scoliosis on TikTok.

Background: Social media presents an opportunity to analyze popular opinion about patient experiences. Idiopathic scoliosis is a spinal pathology commonly identified in younger patients who are the largest users of social media. Objective: To analyze posts on the social media platform, TikTok, to better understand the scoliotic patient condition. Methods: TikTok posts were searched manually by screening for "#Scoliosis." Variables assessed included number of likes, conveyed tone, gender, activities of daily living, incisional scar, imaging, involved spine level, spinal curvature, pain, formal physical therapy, multiple operations/reoperation, brace use, self-image, mobility, and educational/awareness posts. Number of responses per category were evaluated for the total they represented and the percentage of available posts containing those elements. Odds ratios with 95% confidence intervals were calculated for each collected variable. Results: More posts were positive than negative (P < 0.001) and from female users than male users (P < 0.001). Self-image was the most prevalent subject, with many posts not mentioning activities of daily living, incisional scars, imaging, pain, physical therapy, timing, awareness/education, or involved spine levels. Conclusions: More females post about scoliosis than males, with most posts containing positive self-image-related themes. This may represent a positive public attitude about scoliosis; however, further research is needed.

Validated Wearable Device Shows Acute Postoperative Changes in Sleep Patterns Consistent With Patient-Reported Outcomes and Progressive Decreases in Device Compliance After Shoulder Surgery.

Purpose: To assess the utility of a validated wearable device (VWD) in examining preoperative and postoperative sleep patterns and how these data compare to patient-reported outcomes (PROs) after rotator cuff repair (RCR) or total shoulder arthroplasty (TSA). Methods: Male and female adult patients undergoing either RCR or TSA were followed up from 34 days preoperatively to 6 weeks postoperatively. Sleep metrics were collected using a VWD in an unsupervised setting. PROs were assessed using the following validated outcome measures: Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) Physical Function questionnaire; American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons self-evaluation questionnaire; visual analog scale assessing pain; and Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand questionnaire. Data were analyzed preoperatively and at 2-week intervals postoperatively with χ2 analysis to evaluate device compliance. Sleep metrics and PROs were evaluated at each interval relative to preoperative values within each surgery type with an analysis of variance repeated on time point. The relation between sleep metrics and PROs was assessed with correlation analysis. Results: A total of 57 patients were included, 37 in the RCR group and 20 in the TSA group. The rate of device compliance in the RCR group decreased from 84% at surgery to 46% by 6 weeks postoperatively (P < .001). Similarly, the rate of device compliance in the TSA group decreased from 81% to 52% (P < .001). Deep sleep decreased in RCR patients at 2 to 4 weeks (decrease by 10.99 ± 3.96 minutes, P = .021) and 4 to 6 weeks postoperatively (decrease by 13.37 ± 4.08 minutes, P = .008). TSA patients showed decreased deep sleep at 0 to 2 weeks postoperatively (decrease by 12.91 ± 5.62 minutes, P = .045) and increased rapid eye movement sleep at 2 to 4 weeks postoperatively (increase by 26.91 ± 10.70 minutes, P = .031). Rapid eye movement sleep in the RCR group and total sleep in the TSA group were positively correlated with more favorable PROs (P < .05). Conclusions: VWDs allow for monitoring components of sleep that offer insight into potential targets for improving postoperative fatigue, pain, and overall recovery after shoulder surgery. However, population demographic factors and ease of device use are barriers to optimized patient compliance during data collection. Level of Evidence: Level IV, diagnostic case series.

Return to Sport and Performance After Thumb Metacarpophalangeal Joint Collateral Ligament Surgery in the National Basketball Association.

Introduction Basketball players are at increased risk of thumb collateral ligament injury (ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) and radial collateral ligament (RCL)). Methods The National Basketball Association (NBA) players with thumb collateral ligament surgery were identified using publicly available data. Performance statistics, ligament injuries (UCL or RCL), return to sport (RTS) time, laterality, and injury dates were recorded. Cases were matched 1:1 with controls based on age (±1 year), body mass index (BMI), NBA experience (±1 year), and performance statistics prior to the index date. RTS was defined as playing in one NBA game postoperatively. Career longevity was evaluated. Summary statistics were calculated, and Student's t-tests (ɑ = 0.001) were performed. Results All 47 players identified with thumb collateral ligament surgeries returned to sport. Thirty-three players (age: 26.9 ± 3.0) had one year of postoperative NBA experience for performance analysis. Career length (case: 9.6 ± 4.1, control: 9.4 ± 4.3, p > 0.001) was not significantly different from controls (p > 0.001). The same season time to RTS (n = 20) was 7.1 ± 2.4 weeks. Off-season or season-ending surgery (n = 13) RTS time was 28.4 ± 18.7 weeks. Neither thumb collateral ligament (UCL, n = 7; RCL, n = 10; unknown, n = 16) had an identifiable difference between the groups when evaluating career length. Career length, games/season, and performance were not different for players who underwent surgery on their dominant thumb (63.6%, 21/33) compared to controls (p > 0.001). Conclusion RTS rate is high in NBA athletes undergoing thumb collateral ligament surgery. Players do not experience decreased performance or career length due to thumb collateral ligament surgery, regardless of a dominant or non-dominant thumb injury.

Comparison of the PROMIS and iHOT-12 in Determining Satisfaction Levels After Hip Arthroscopy for FAIS.

Background: The Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) has not been fully evaluated for outcomes assessment after hip arthroscopy to correct femoroacetabular impingement syndrome (FAIS). Purpose/Hypothesis: The purpose of this study was to compare the accuracy of the PROMIS Physical Function (PF) and Pain Interference (PI) subscales with the 12-Item International Hip Outcome Tool (iHOT-12) to define patients with 3 unique substantial clinical benefit (SCB) scores-patients who reported ≥80%, ≥90%, and 100% satisfaction at 1 year after hip arthroscopy for FAIS. We hypothesized that the iHOT-12 would be more accurate than the PROMIS-PF and PROMIS-PI subscales in identifying these 3 patient groups. Study Design: Cohort study (diagnosis); Level of evidence, 2. Methods: We reviewed the records of patients who underwent hip arthroscopy for symptomatic FAIS at 3 centers from January 2019 through June 2021 and had 1-year clinical and radiographic follow-up data. Patients completed the iHOT-12, PROMIS-PF, and PROMIS-PI on initial assessment and at 1 year (±30 days) postoperatively. Postoperative satisfaction was reported on an 11-category scale with anchors defined as "0% satisfied" and "100% satisfied." Receiver operator characteristic analysis was performed to determine the absolute SCB values for the iHOT-12 and PROMIS subscales that would most accurately identify those patients who reported ≥80%, ≥90%, and 100% satisfaction. Area under the curve (AUC) values and 95% CIs for the 3 instruments were compared. Results: Included were 163 patients (111 [68%] women and 52 [32%] men), with a mean age of 26.1 years. Corresponding absolute SCB scores for patients who reported ≥80%, ≥90%, and 100% satisfaction were as follows: iHOT-12, 68.4, 72.1, 74.7; PROMIS-PF, 45, 47.7, 49.9; and PROMIS-PI, 55.9, 52.4, 51.9. The AUC ranged between 0.67 and 0.82, with overlapping 95% CIs indicating a minimal difference in accuracy between the 3 instruments. Sensitivity and specificity values ranged between 0.61 and 0.82. Conclusion: The PROMIS-PF and PROMIS-PI subscales were as accurate as the iHOT-12 in defining absolute SCB scores for patients reporting ≥80%, ≥90%, and 100% satisfaction at 1-year follow-up after hip arthroscopy for FAIS.

Postless Arthroscopic Hip Preservation Can be Adequately Performed Using Published Techniques.

Purpose: To identify and evaluate techniques used for postless hip arthroscopy. Methods: A narrative review was performed using Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines to identify surgical technique articles or clinical studies describing techniques for the use of postless hip arthroscopy. Specific items sought for analysis included hip arthroscopy for femoroacetabular impingement including cam or pincer-type lesions, surgical time, traction time, traction force, bed Trendelenburg angle, intraoperative techniques, and postoperative outcomes, including complications. Exclusion criteria included any postless techniques used for open hip surgeries such as periacetabular osteotomy, sports hernia, peritrochanteric work, gluteus medius repair, ischiofemoral impingement, hamstring repair, or need for intraoperative conversion from postless to posted technique. Results: Ten studies (1 Level III, 3 Level IV, 6 Level V), published from 2007 to 2021, were analyzed (1,341 hips, 51.5% male, mean age ranged from 16.0 to 66.0 years). In 4 studies, Trendelenburg position with a foam pad (The Pink Pad; Xodus Medical, Inc.) was used at 5 to 20°. Six of 10 studies contained no clinical results. The average traction force and time ranged from 65.0 to 88 pounds and 31.0 to 73.5 minutes, respectively. The remaining studies used the yoga mat technique, the Tutankhamun technique, the beanbag technique, and the Hip Arthroscopy Post-less Procedure Impingement technique. There was only one incident of pudendal neurapraxia, which resolved spontaneously at 6 weeks without complication. Sufficient distraction was able to be obtained using postless traction in all cases. Conclusions: Postless hip arthroscopy may adequately be performed with a variety of techniques. Obtaining adequate traction and countertraction may be achieved through these postless methods. Clinical Relevance: Given the potential serious complications that may result from use of a perineal post, it is important for surgeons to be aware of postless techniques that may be used effectively for hip arthroscopy.

Addition of Pericapsular Nerve Group and Transversus Abdominis Plane Blocks Significantly Reduces Opioid Use in Patients Undergoing Concomitant Hip Arthroscopy and Periacetabular Osteotomy.

INTRODUCTION: Previous studies have evaluated the effect of the pericapsular nerve group block for hip arthroscopy and the transverse abdominis plane block for periacetabular osteotomy and have shown decreased narcotic consumption in both groups. No published study has evaluated the effectiveness of combining the blocks when performing hip arthroscopy and periacetabular osteotomy under the same general anesthesia. It was hypothesized that patients treated for hip dysplasia with hip arthroscopy and concomitant periacetabular osteotomy using a pericapsular nerve group block, transverse abdominis plane block, and general anesthesia would have decreased postoperative pain and require less narcotic consumption than those undergoing the procedure with general anesthetic alone.  Methods: A single surgeon performed a retrospective analysis of consecutive patients undergoing concomitant hip arthroscopy and periacetabular osteotomy between 11/2020 and 6/2021. Fifteen consecutive patients undergoing the procedure with a general anesthetic alone (no-block group) were compared to 15 patients undergoing the same procedure with a combined pericapsular nerve group block, transverse abdominis plane block, and general anesthetic (block group). Hip arthroscopy was performed utilizing a post-free technique, and a rectus sparing approach was used for the periacetabular osteotomy. The nerve blocks were performed by multiple anesthesiologists using previously published methods. Operating room time, length of stay, visual analog scale pain scores, and total narcotic consumption in morphine milliequivalents were analyzed. Groups were compared using the chi-squared test for non-continuous demographic variables and a two-tailed t-test for continuous variables utilizing Microsoft Excel (Microsoft, Redmond, WA, USA), p-value set at 0.05 for significance.  Results: The no-block group consisted of 14 females and one male, while the block group was all females. No significant differences were observed between age, sex, BMI, surgery time, length of stay, or procedures performed, p>0.05. The maximal visual analog scale score in the post-anesthesia care unit was 8 ± 1.3 vs. 7 ± 1.9 in the no-block vs. block groups, respectively, p=0.15. The average hospital floor visual analog scale score was 5.7 ± 1.3 vs. 4.8 ± 1.3 in the no-block vs. block groups, respectively, p=0.07. Total pain medications required were 217.6 ± 54.6 vs. 154 ± 41.9 morphine milliequivalents in the no-block vs. block groups, respectively, p=0.001. No complications were reported in either group, and no patient in the block group demonstrated motor nerve palsy or postoperative fall. CONCLUSION:  This study demonstrated that patients undergoing combined hip arthroscopy and periacetabular osteotomy for symptomatic acetabular dysplasia who had pericapsular nerve group, transverse abdominal plane block, and general anesthesia required fewer narcotics in the first 24 hours after surgery compared to those who had general anesthesia alone.

Evaluating the Need for Preoperative MRI Before Primary Hip Arthroscopy in Patients 40 Years and Younger With Femoroacetabular Impingement Syndrome: A Multicenter Comparative Analysis.

Background: Routine hip magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) before arthroscopy for patients with femoroacetabular impingement syndrome (FAIS) offers questionable clinical benefit, delays surgery, and wastes resources. Purpose: To assess the clinical utility of preoperative hip MRI for patients aged ≤40 years who were undergoing primary hip arthroscopy and who had a history, physical examination findings, and radiographs concordant with FAIS. Study Design: Cohort study; Level of evidence, 3. Methods: Included were 1391 patients (mean age, 25.8 years; 63% female; mean body mass index, 25.6) who underwent hip arthroscopy between August 2015 and December 2021 by 1 of 4 fellowship-trained hip surgeons from 4 referral centers. Inclusion criteria were FAIS, primary surgery, and age ≤40 years. Exclusion criteria were MRI contraindication, reattempt of nonoperative management, and concomitant periacetabular osteotomy. Patients were stratified into those who were evaluated with preoperative MRI versus those without MRI. Those without MRI received an MRI before surgery without deviation from the established surgical plan. All preoperative MRI scans were compared with the office evaluation and intraoperative findings to assess agreement. Time from office to arthroscopy and/or MRI was recorded. MRI costs were calculated. Results: Of the study patients, 322 were not evaluated with MRI and 1069 were. MRI did not alter surgical or interoperative plans. Both groups had MRI findings demonstrating anterosuperior labral tears treated intraoperatively (99.8% repair, 0.2% debridement, and 0% reconstruction). Compared with patients who were evaluated with MRI and waited 63.0 ± 34.6 days, patients who were not evaluated with MRI underwent surgery 6.5 ± 18.7 days after preoperative MRI. MRI delayed surgery by 24.0 ± 5.3 days and cost a mean $2262 per patient. Conclusion: Preoperative MRI did not alter indications for primary hip arthroscopy in patients aged ≤40 years with a history, physical examination findings, and radiographs concordant with FAIS. Rather, MRI delayed surgery and wasted resources. Routine hip MRI acquisition for the younger population with primary FAIS with a typical presentation should be challenged.

Guidelines for Proper Reporting of Clinical Significance, Including Minimal Clinically Important Difference, Patient Acceptable Symptomatic State, Substantial Clinical Benefit, and Maximal Outcome Improvement.

Patient-reported outcome measures (PROM) need to be responsive, reliable, and validated for the specific condition or treatment. PROMs also need to exhibit a dose-dependent response across a diverse patient population, unlimited by floor and ceiling effects. Statistically significant differences between compared groups might not always represent clinically important differences. Measures of clinical significance reflect a spectrum of patient satisfaction after an intervention. A noticeable difference to the patient is assessed with minimal clinically important difference (MCID), patient satisfaction by patient acceptable symptomatic state (PASS), and a "considerable" improvement by substantial clinical benefit (SCB). Clinical relevance measured by these clinically significant outcomes (CSO) are limited by ceiling effects. Maximal outcome improvement (MOI) might more accurately account for patients with higher baseline or preoperative PROMs, thereby limiting ceiling effects. The acts of measuring (and reporting) patient-centered endpoints may actually be of greater importance than collecting objective clinician-measured data. As the old surgeon's aphorism goes, "nothing ruins good results like good follow-up."

Current Trends in the Use of Postless Hip Arthroscopy: A Survey of the International Society for Hip Arthroscopy Membership.

Background: Previous studies have demonstrated the risks of pudendal nerve and/or soft tissue complications due to the use of a perineal post during hip arthroscopy. Recently, various postless hip arthroscopy techniques have been described in the literature. Purpose: To assess the current international trends in the use of postless hip arthroscopy among hip preservation specialists. Study Design: Cross-sectional study. Methods: An anonymous 11-item survey was sent by email to all members of the International Society for Hip Arthroscopy (ISHA) in January 2022. Surgeons were asked various questions regarding their current use of post-assisted or postless hip arthroscopy, if they had changed their setup technique during their career and the reason for that change, and their perceived rate of pudendal nerve and/or perineal soft tissue injuries using their current technique. Descriptive statistics were used to report the results of each question. The Student t test was used to compare the number of years in practice between post-assisted and postless users. Fisher exact tests were performed to compare categorical rates of pudendal nerve and soft tissue complications between post-assisted and postless users. Results: A total of 126 surveys were completed from 431 ISHA members (29.2%). Sixty-one percent of the surgeons currently use a perineal post, while 33% use a postless technique. Seventy-five percent of the perineal post users and 98% of the postless users self-reported a rate of pudendal nerve and/or soft tissue injury of <1% (P = .015). Among 41 respondents who indicated changing their technique at some point, 59% reported doing so because of pudendal nerve and/or soft tissue complications. Among surgeons who switched from a perineal post to a postless setup, 71% indicated they have noticed a decrease in the rate of pudendal nerve and/or soft tissue complications. Conclusion: Although use of a perineal post is still a more common setup technique among hip arthroscopists, approximately one-third of surgeons use a postless technique. Surgeons who have switched to a postless technique often did so because of perineal complications, with the majority noticing a subjective decrease in these complications with the use of postless hip arthroscopy.

Quantitative high-resolution 7T MRI to assess longitudinal changes in articular cartilage after anterior cruciate ligament injury in a rabbit model of post-traumatic osteoarthritis.

Objective: To demonstrate an ultra-high field (UHF) 7 â€‹T delayed gadolinium-enhanced MRI of cartilage (dGEMRIC) protocol for quantitative post-traumatic osteoarthritis (PTOA) detection and monitoring in a rabbit anterior cruciate ligament transection (ACLT) model. Design: ACL transections were performed unilaterally in 5 rabbits (33-weeks-old, 3.5 â€‹± â€‹0.5 â€‹kg) to induce PTOA. MRI exams were performed at 7 â€‹T prior to and 2, 4, 7 and 10-weeks after ACLT using a modified dGEMRIC protocol. Voxel-based T1 and T2 maps were created over manually drawn femoral cartilage ROIs from the center of the tibial plateau to the posterior meniscus. Femoral, tibial, and patellar epiphyses were harvested 10-weeks post-surgery and processed for µCT imaging and histology. Results: Quantitative analysis revealed a 35% and 39% decrease in dGEMRIC index in the medial ACLT knee compartment 7- and 10-weeks post-surgery, respectively (p â€‹= â€‹0.009 and p â€‹= â€‹0.006) when compared to baseline. There was no significant change in the lateral ACLT compartment or in either compartment of the control knees. Visual inspection of histology confirmed PTOA in the ACLT knees. Osteophytes were found only in ACLT knees (osteophyte volume in femur: 94.53 â€‹± â€‹44.08 â€‹mm3, tibia: 29.35 â€‹± â€‹13.79 â€‹mm3, and patella: 3.84 â€‹± â€‹0.92 â€‹mm3) and were significantly larger in the medial compartments of the femur than lateral (p â€‹= â€‹0.0312). Conclusion: The dGEMRIC technique quantitatively applied at 7 â€‹T UHF-MRI demonstrates site-specific cartilage degeneration in a large animal PTOA model. This should encourage further investigation, with potential applications in drug and therapeutic animal trials as well as human studies.

Acetabular Paralabral Cyst Causing Obturator Nerve Compression in the Setting of Femoroacetabular Impingement Syndrome: A Case Report.

CASE: Large acetabular paralabral cysts can cause compression of the surrounding neurovascular structures leading to sensory and motor deficits. We present a 68-year-old man with obturator nerve denervation from a paralabral cyst secondary to a labral tear associated with femoroacetabular impingement syndrome. Resolution of symptoms and return to full activities were achieved at 3 months and maintained beyond 1 year through open cyst excision, obturator neurolysis, arthroscopic femoral osteoplasty, and labral repair in the same surgical setting. The patient had a successful clinical outcome, with pain and dysfunction resolution. CONCLUSION: Large paralabral cysts may cause obturator nerve compression, which can be successfully treated with open nerve decompression and arthroscopic treatment of labral pathology.

Editorial Commentary: The Pelvis is the Lowest Vertebral Level: Diagnostic Approach to Hip-Spine Syndrome.

The human pelvis represents a wonderful example of apparent idealistic simplicity overwhelmed by realistic complexity. Traditionally, the pelvis has been termed a "ring" linking the lower extremity to the spine via the sacroiliac joint. In essence, the pelvis is the lowest vertebral level-"the hip bone's connected to the spine bone." Thus, the law of parsimony seemingly applies in the diagnosis and management of both arthritic and nonarthritic hip and spine disorders in isolation or combination. However, an inverse Occam's razor is much more likely. The layered theory of hip disorders illustrates how a base osteochondral layer (femoroacetabular impingement syndrome, ischiofemoral impingement from either the lesser trochanter or greater trochanter, arthritis), a static inert soft-tissue layer (labrum, capsule, ligament), a dynamic soft-tissue layer (muscle, tendon), and a neurokinetic chain layer all interact and can lead to hundreds, if not thousands, of different combinations of primary and secondary symptom sources. Although correlation does not equal causation, intuitively and overly simplistically, a stiff painful hip can transfer stress across the pelvic ring to the spine, causing back pain. Alternatively, 2 separate symptom sources could be present at the same time. Biomechanical stress transfer can occur from flexion-based (e.g., femoroacetabular impingement syndrome) or extension-based (e.g., ischiofemoral impingement) problems. The diagnosis of hip-spine syndrome in patients becomes really complicated usually really fast, encompassing the hip joint, peritrochanteric space, deep gluteal space, pelvis and pelvic floor, sacroiliac joint, and lumbosacral spine-and don't forget mental health and the mind controls the musculotendinous system in these challenging, often frustrated, patients. Static imaging findings necessitate dynamic symptom correlation, especially via pertinent values including pelvic incidence; pelvic tilt; sacral slope; lumbar lordosis; femoral and acetabular version; cam, pincer, and dysplastic morphologies; and leg length. Judicious diagnostic injections can greatly assist in clinical symptom interpretation. Successful treatment requires consideration and management of the primary etiology and pertinent secondary downstream effects. When a patient's hip hurts, one should always look at the patient's back; when a patient's back hurts, one should always look at the patient's hip.