Adriana J. Saroki

Return to Elite Level of Play and Performance in Professional Golfers After Arthroscopic Hip Surgery

Background: Hip conditions, such as femoroacetabular impingement and labral injury, can cause pain and limit the ability to play sports at a professional level. Purpose: To evaluate performance metrics of professional golfers prior to arthroscopic hip surgery and after surgery. Study Design: Case series; Level of evidence, 4. Methods: This study included professional golfers who underwent arthroscopic hip surgery. Primary outcome variables were greens in regulation and driving distance. Metrics were recorded for 2 years prior to arthroscopic hip surgery and 1, 2, and 5 years after arthroscopy. Results: A consecutive cohort of 20 male professional golfers (27 hips) from 2000 to 2011 underwent arthroscopic hip surgery by a single surgeon. All players were on the PGA Tour with a mean age of 38 years (range, 26-54 years). Eleven hips had labral repair and 16 had labral debridements. Four hips required microfracture of a chondral lesion. All players returned to play at a mean of 4.7 months (range, 1 month to 2 years). The mean number of years played after surgery was 5.72. There was no significant difference between preoperative and postoperative greens in regulation (P = .227). The mean distance per golf drive was significantly longer at 1 and 2 years postoperative compared with prior to surgery (P < .01), and driving distance at 5 years was also longer than preoperative (P = .008). Conclusion: Arthroscopic management of chondrolabral dysfunction due to femoroacetabular impingement in the professional golfer allowed the golfer to return to the same skill level prior to surgery. Mean driving distance was found to increase after arthroscopy, demonstrating not only a return but also an improvement in driving performance from prior level of play.

Subregional Anatomical Distribution of T2 Values of Articular Cartilage in Asymptomatic Hips.

Objective: A standardized definition of normative T2 values across the articular surface of the hip must be defined in order to fully understand T2 values for detecting early degeneration. Therefore, in this article, we seek to lay foundational methodology for reproducible quantitative evaluation of hip cartilage damage using T2 mapping to determine the normative T2 values in asymptomatic individuals. Design: Nineteen prospectively enrolled asymptomatic volunteers (age 18-35 years, males 10, females 9, alpha angle 49.3º ± 7.2º) were evaluated with a sagittal T2 mapping sequence at 3.0 T magnetic resonance imaging. Acetabular and femoral cartilage was manually segmented directly on the second echo of the T2 mapping sequence by 3 raters, twice. Segmentations were divided into 12 subregions modified from the geographic zone method. Median T2 values within each subregion were compiled for further analysis and interrater and intrarater reliability was assessed. Results: In the femur, the posterior-superior subregion was significantly higher (P ≤ 0.05) than those in the posterior-inferior and anterior-inferior subregions. In the acetabulum, the anterior-inferior subregion was significantly higher (P ≤ 0.001) than in the anterior-superior, middle, and posterior-inferior subregions. T2 values of the posterior-superior subregion were significantly higher (P ≤ 0.05) than the anterior-superior, middle, and posterior-inferior subregions. Interrater agreement was generally fair to good.

Biomechanical Analysis of the Individual Ligament Contributions to Syndesmotic Stability

Background: Biomechanical data and contributions to ankle joint stability have been previously reported for the individual distal tibiofibular ligaments. These results have not yet been validated based on recent anatomic descriptions or using current biomechanical testing devices. Methods: Eight matched-pair, lower leg specimens were tested using a dynamic, biaxial testing machine. The proximal tibiofibular joint and the medial and lateral ankle ligaments were left intact. After fixation, specimens were preconditioned and then biomechanically tested following sequential cutting of the tibiofibular ligaments to assess the individual ligamentous contributions to syndesmotic stability. Matched paired specimens were randomly divided into 1 of 2 cutting sequences: (1) anterior-to-posterior: intact, anterior inferior tibiofibular ligament (AITFL), interosseous tibiofibular ligament (ITFL), deep posterior inferior tibiofibular ligament (PITFL), superficial PITFL, and complete interosseous membrane; (2) posterior-to-anterior: intact, superficial PITFL, deep PITFL, ITFL, AITFL, and complete interosseous membrane. While under a 750-N axial compressive load, the foot was rotated to 15 degrees of external rotation and 10 degrees of internal rotation for each sectioned state. Torque (Nm), rotational position (degrees), and 3-dimensional data were recorded continuously throughout testing. Results: Testing of the intact ankle syndesmosis under simulated physiologic conditions revealed 4.3 degrees of fibular rotation in the axial plane and 3.3 mm of fibular translation in the sagittal plane. Significant increases in fibular sagittal translation and axial rotation were observed after syndesmotic injury, particularly after sectioning of the AITFL and superficial PITFL. Sequential sectioning of the syndesmotic ligaments resulted in significant reductions in resistance to both internal and external rotation. Isolated injuries to the AITFL resulted in the most substantial reduction of resistance to external rotation (average of 24%). However, resistance to internal rotation was not significantly diminished until the majority of the syndesmotic structures had been sectioned. Conclusion: The ligaments of the syndesmosis provide significant contributions to rotary stability of the distal tibiofibular joint within the physiologic range of motion. Clinical Relevance: This study defined normal motion of the syndesmosis and the biomechanical consequences of injury. The degree of instability was increased with each additional injured structure; however, isolated injuries to the AITFL alone may lead to significant external rotary instability.

Hip arthroscopy for the management of trauma: a literature review

The first descriptions of the use of hip arthroscopy for traumatic injuries were presented in 1980. One paper described arthroscopy for the removal of a bullet fragment while others reported using hip arthroscopy to remove fragments following total hip arthroplasty. With the application of traction and modification of arthroscopic instruments, hip arthroscopy has become a useful tool in treating trauma to the hip. Most of the literature describes traumatic hip dislocation. Several studies have documented the successful use of arthroscopy for removal of loose bodies, but it has also been used to treat labral tears, chondral defects and acetabular rim fractures. Complications reported include fluid extravasation, the lowering of the patients body temperature using cool saline irrigation and further injury due to unrecognized concomitant pathology.

Biomechanical Comparison of 3 Current Ankle Syndesmosis Repair Techniques.

Background: Significant debate exists regarding optimal repair for unstable syndesmosis injuries. Techniques range from screw fixation, suture-button fixation, or a combination of the two. In this study, 3 common repairs were compared using a simulated weightbearing protocol with internal and external rotation of the foot. Methods: Twenty-four lower leg specimens with mean age 54 years (range, 38-68 years) were used for testing. Following creation of a complete syndesmotic injury (AITFL, ITFL, PITFL, interosseous membrane), specimens were repaired using 1 of 3 randomly assigned techniques: (1) one 3.5-mm syndesmotic screw, (2) 1 suture-button construct, and (3) 2 divergent suture-button constructs. Repairs were cycled for 500 cycles between 7.5 Nm of internal/external rotation torque under a constant 750 N axial compressive load in a neutral dorsiflexion position. At 0, 10, 100, and 500 cycles, torsional cyclic loading was interrupted to assess torsional resistance to rotation within a physiologic range of motion (15 degrees external rotation to 10 degrees internal rotation). Torque (Nm), rotational position (degrees), and 3-dimensional data were collected throughout the testing to characterize relative spatial relationships of the tibiofibular articulation. Results: There were no significant differences between repair techniques in resistance to internal and external rotation with respect to the intact syndesmosis. Three-dimensional analysis revealed significant differences between repair techniques for sagittal fibular translation with external rotation of the foot. Screw fixation had the smallest magnitude of posterior sagittal translation (2.5 mm), and a single suture-button construct demonstrated the largest magnitude of posterior sagittal translation (4.6 mm). Screw fixation also allowed for significantly less anterior sagittal translation with internal rotation of the foot (0.1 mm) when compared to both 1 (2.7 mm) and 2 (2.9 mm) suture-button constructs. Conclusion: All repairs provided comparable rotational stability to the syndesmosis; however, no repair technique completely restored rotational stability and tibiofibular anatomic relationships of the preinjury state. Clinical Relevance: Constructs were comparable across most conditions; however, when repairing injuries with a suture-button construct, a single suture-button construct may not provide sufficient resistance to sagittal translation of the fibula.

Radiographic Identification of Arthroscopically Relevant Acetabular Structures

Background: The anatomy of the acetabulum has been described extensively in the literature, but radiographic acetabular guidelines have not been well established. This study provides a radiographic map of acetabular landmarks in the hip. Purpose/Hypothesis: The purpose of this study was to quantify the precise radiographic location of arthroscopic landmarks around the acetabulum. The hypothesis was that their locations were reproducible despite variability in the anatomy and positioning of pelvic specimens. Study Design: Descriptive laboratory study. Methods: Ten fresh-frozen cadaveric specimens were dissected, and radio-opaque hardware was placed for each landmark of interest. Anteroposterior (AP) and false-profile radiographs were obtained, and measurements were taken using a digital picture archiving and communication system. Results: On AP radiographs, the direct and indirect heads of the rectus femoris were a mean 48.2 ± 4.6 mm and 44.7 ± 4.3 mm proximal to the teardrop line, respectively. The mean radiographic distance between their insertions was 5.0 ± 3.4 mm. Moreover, the anterior inferior iliac spine was a mean 11.5 ± 3.8 mm from the acetabular rim. On false-profile radiographs, the mean distance between the direct and indirect heads of the rectus femoris was 31.4 ± 6.2 mm. The mean distance between the superior margin of the anterior labral sulcus (the psoas-u) and the midpoint of the transverse acetabular ligament was 41.0 ± 5.7 mm. Additionally, the direct and indirect heads of the rectus femoris corresponded to the 2:30 and 1:30 locations on the acetabular clockface, respectively. The midpoint of the transverse acetabular ligament was located at 7 o’clock on the clockface. Conclusion: The most important finding of this study, determined by quantitative measurements, was that the described surgical landmarks had reliable locations on radiographs. Distances between landmarks as well as distances between landmarks and reference lines were reproducible in both AP and false-profile views. Clinical Relevance: An understanding of how acetabular structures present on radiographs could lead to more accurate portal and hardware placement intraoperatively during arthroscopic surgery as well as better preoperative and postoperative assessments.

Radiographic Identification of Arthroscopically Relevant Proximal Femoral Structures

Background: Anatomic landmarks located on the proximal femur have only recently been defined, and there is a lack of radiographic guidelines for their locations presented in the literature. With the confident identification of these landmarks, radiographs could provide more assistance in preoperative evaluations, intraoperative guidance, and postoperative assessments. Purpose: To quantify the radiographic locations of endoscopic landmarks of the proximal femur. Study Design: Descriptive laboratory study. Methods: Ten cadaveric specimens were dissected, and radio-opaque hardware was placed for each landmark of interest. Radiographs were obtained and measurements recorded in anteroposterior (AP) and Dunn 45° views. Results: In the AP view, the gluteus medius insertion was located a mean 12.9 ± 2.4 mm and 34.7 ± 5.1 mm from the piriformis fossa and vastus tubercle, respectively. The piriformis fossa was a mean 14.8 ± 5.9 mm and 4.9 ± 1.9 mm from the anterior and posterior tips of the greater trochanter, respectively. The anterior and posterior tips of the greater trochanter were a mean 14.8 ± 5.1 mm from each other. In the Dunn 45° view, the piriformis fossa was a mean 13.3 ± 2.0 mm, and the vastus tubercle was a mean 21.5 ± 6.0 mm, from the gluteus medius insertion. Moreover, the vastus tubercle was a mean 33.5 ± 6.4 mm from the anterior tip of the greater trochanter and 31.6 ± 8.5 mm from the posterior tip of the greater trochanter. Conclusion: In spite of the variation in cadaveric sizes, quantitative descriptions of endoscopic landmarks were reproducible in clinical views. Clinical Relevance: A detailed understanding of how the described landmarks present radiographically is relevant to preoperative planning, intraoperative evaluations, and postoperative assessments.

Biomechanical Assessment of Hip Capsular Repair and Reconstruction Procedures Using a 6 Degree-Of-Freedom Robotic System

To evaluate the effects of arthroscopically relevant conditions of the capsule through a robotic study. The results suggest that common hip arthroscopic capsulotomy procedures resulted in increased hip rotations and capsular repair and reconstruction partially restored hip range of motion. Thus, capsular repair or reconstruction should be considered in cases with risk of residual instability.

Biomechanical Assessment of Hip Capsular Repair and Reconstruction Procedures Using a 6 Degrees of Freedom Robotic System

Background: Although acetabular labral repair has been biomechanically validated to improve stability, capsular management of the hip remains a topic of growing interest and controversy. Purpose: To biomechanically evaluate the effects of several arthroscopically relevant conditions of the capsule through a robotic, sequential sectioning study. Study Design: Controlled laboratory study. Methods: Ten human cadaveric unilateral hip specimens (mean age, 51.3 years [range, 38-65 years]) from full pelvises were used to test range of motion (ROM) for the intact capsule and for multiple capsular conditions including portal incisions, interportal capsulotomy, interportal capsulotomy repair, T-capsulotomy, T-capsulotomy repair, a large capsular defect, and capsular reconstruction. Hips were biomechanically tested using a 6 degrees of freedom robotic system to assess ROM with applied 5-N·m internal, external, abduction, and adduction rotation torques throughout hip flexion and extension. Results: All capsulotomy procedures (portals, interportal capsulotomy, and T-capsulotomy) created increases in external, internal, adduction, and abduction rotations compared with the intact state throughout the full tested ROM (−10° to 90° of flexion). Reconstruction significantly reduced rotation compared with the large capsular defect state for external rotation at 15° (difference, 1.4°) and 90° (difference, 1.3°) of flexion; internal rotation at −10° (difference, 0.4°), 60° (difference, 0.9°), and 90° (difference, 1.4°) of flexion; abduction rotation at −10° (difference, 0.5°), 15° (difference, 1.1°), 30° (difference, 1.2°), 60° (difference, 0.9°), and 90° (difference, 1.0°) of flexion; and adduction rotation at 0° (difference, 0.7°), 15° (difference, 0.8°), 30° (difference, 0.3°), and 90° (difference, 0.6°) of flexion. Repair of T-capsulotomy resulted in significant reductions in rotation compared with the T-capsulotomy condition for abduction rotation at −10° (difference, 0.3°), 15° (difference, 0.9°), 30° (difference, 1.3°), 60° (difference, 1.7°), and 90° (difference, 1.5°) of flexion and for internal rotation at −10° (difference, 0.9°), 60° (difference, 1.5°), and 90° (difference, 2.6°) of flexion. Similarly, repair of interportal capsulotomy resulted in significant reductions in abduction (difference, 0.9°) and internal (difference, 1.4°) rotations compared with interportal capsulotomy at 90° of flexion. In most cases, however, after the repair procedures, ROM was still increased in comparison with the intact state. Conclusion: The results of this study suggest that common hip arthroscopic capsulotomy procedures can result in increases in external, internal, abduction, and adduction rotations throughout a full range (−10° to 90°) of hip flexion. However, capsular repair and reconstruction succeeded in partially reducing the increased rotational ROM caused by common capsulotomy procedures. Thus, consideration should be allotted toward capsular repair or reconstruction in cases with an increased risk of residual instability. Clinical Relevance: Although complete restoration of joint stability may not be fully achieved at time zero, capsular repair and reconstruction may lead to improved patient outcomes by bringing hip rotational movements nearer to normal values in the immediate postoperative period, especially in cases in which extensive capsulotomy is performed.

Repair of the Ankle Syndesmosis A Biomechanical of Analysis of Three Current Repair Techniques

Objectives: Significant debate exists regarding the optimal repair techniques for unstable syndesmosis injuries. Techniques range from one to multiple screw fixation, suture-button fixation devices, or a combination of the two. The purpose of the current investigation was to biomechanically compare three common syndesmotic repair techniques using a simulated weight-bearing protocol with internal and external rotation of the foot. Methods: Twenty-four, lower leg specimens with mean age 54.25 years (range, 38 to 68 years) were utilized for testing. Following the creation of a complete syndesmotic injury (AITFL, ITFL, PITFL, interosseous membrane) specimens were repaired using one of three randomly assigned repair techniques: (1) one 3.5 mm syndesmotic screw, (2) one suture-button construct, and (3) two divergent suture-button constructs. For testing, specimens were oriented in neutral plantar/dorsiflexion and neutral internal/external rotation with the respect to the vertical tibia. Repairs were then cycled for 500 cycles between 7.5 Nm of internal/external rotation torque under a constant 750 N axial compressive load. At 0, 10, 100, and 500 cycles, torsional cyclic loading was interrupted to assess torsional stiffness and resistance to rotation within a physiologic range of motion. While axially loaded to 750 N, the foot was externally rotated to 15° and then rotated to 10° of internal rotation. Torsional cyclic loading was then resumed. Torque (Nm) and rotational position (degrees) were recorded continuously throughout testing. Three-dimensional data was also collected throughout testing to characterize the relative spatial relationships of the tibiofibular articulation. Results: Biomechanically, there were no significant differences between techniques when repairs were compared to the intact syndesmosis. Three-dimensional analysis revealed significant differences between all repair techniques for sagittal fibular translation with external rotation of the foot. Screw fixation had the smallest magnitude in sagittal translation (-2.5 mm), and a single suture-button construct demonstrated the largest magnitude of sagittal translation (-4.6 mm). Screw fixation also allowed for significantly lower sagittal translation with internal rotation of the foot (0.1 mm) when compared to both one (2.7 mm) and two (2.9 mm) suture-button repair constructs. Conclusion: All repairs provided a significant resistance to internal and external rotation, and only demonstrated mild reductions in strength and torsional stiffness throughout torsional cyclic testing.