High Rate of Concomitant Lumbo-Sacral Spine Pathology in the Setting of Hip Abductor Tendon Repair.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Hip abductor deficiency is a common cause of lateral hip pain in middle-aged patients. Identifying upstream muscle denervation originating in the lumbo-sacral spine could potentially impact the management of patients who have abductor deficiency. The purpose of this study was to estimate the prevalence of lumbo-sacral pathology (L4 to S1) in patients undergoing hip abductor tendon repair. METHODS: All cases of primary hip abductor repair performed at a tertiary care center between January 2010 and December 2021 were reviewed. Patients were classified into the following groups A) confirmed L4 to S1 disease based on preoperative or perioperative L4 to S1 interventions (ie, surgery, epidural injections, and/or positive electromyography findings); B) radiographic evidence on lumbar spine magnetic resonance imaging demonstrating nerve compression at L4 to S1; and C) no evidence of L4 to S1 disease. RESULTS: There were 131 cases of primary hip abductor repair that were included. Over 80% of patients were women, who had a mean age of 64 years (range, 20 to 85). There were thirteen patients (9.9%) who underwent concomitant total hip arthroplasty (THA). Of the included patients, 29% (n = 38) were categorized into group A, 12% (n = 16) into group B, and 59% (n = 77) into group C. Patients who had L4 to S1 pathology were older than patients who did not have L4 to S1 pathology (67 versus 61 years, P = .004). Of the patients undergoing concomitant THA and hip abductor repair, 54% demonstrated evidence of lumbo-sacral spine pathology. CONCLUSIONS: Over 40% of patients undergoing isolated hip abductor tendon repair and >50% of patients undergoing concomitant hip abductor tendon repair and THA demonstrated evidence of L4 to S1 disease perioperatively. Patients demonstrating symptomatic hip abductor deficiency should be screened for concomitant lower lumbo-sacral spine pathology.