Tigran Garabekyan

Lateral Acetabular Coverage Predicts the Size of the Hip Labrum

Background: Bony morphological abnormalities of the hip joint are often accompanied by adaptive soft tissue changes. These adaptive changes, if better understood and characterized, may serve to inform clinical decision making. Purpose: To investigate the correlation between the size of the hip labrum and lateral acetabular coverage in patients at our hip preservation clinic. Study Design: Cross-sectional study; Level of evidence, 3. Methods: A cohort of 236 patients seen at a dedicated hip preservation service between June 2013 and June 2015 were retrospectively analyzed. Patients were grouped according to the degree of acetabular coverage, as measured by the lateral center-edge angle (LCEA): normal acetabular coverage (25°-39.9°), acetabular overcoverage (≥40°), borderline dysplasia (20°-24.9°), and frank dysplasia (<20°). Preoperative magnetic resonance imaging was utilized to measure the length of the labrum at 3 locations: laterally, anteriorly, and anteroinferiorly. Results: Frankly dysplastic and borderline dysplastic hips exhibited larger values of labral length at all locations when compared with hips with normal acetabular coverage (P < .001) or acetabular overcoverage (P < .001). Interestingly, mean labral length values in frank dysplasia were statistically similar to corresponding measurements in borderline dysplasia. In hips with frank dysplasia, borderline dysplasia, or normal acetabular coverage, labral length was consistently greatest at the lateral labrum and correspondingly lowest at the anteroinferior labrum (P < .001). In hips with acetabular overcoverage, labral length did not vary significantly between the lateral, anterior, and anteroinferior locations. Multivariate analyses confirmed LCEA to be the strongest predictor of labral length, irrespective of measurement location. Conclusion: Patients with borderline dysplasia and frank dysplasia exhibited increased values of labral length in the weightbearing zone, potentially indicating a compensatory reaction to the lack of bony coverage. Labral length may serve as an instability marker and inform clinical decision making for patients with borderline dysplasia.

The value of immediate preoperative vascular examination in an at-risk patient for total knee arthroplasty.

Arterial complications associated with total knee arthroplasty (TKA), although infrequent, may be associated with the following sequelae: infection, limb loss, and rarely, death. When revascularization is undertaken in the postoperative setting, additional complications may be encountered including postischemic reperfusion injury necessitating prophylactic fasciotomies. The end result is a prolonged postoperative course leading to worse functional outcome. A preoperative history and physical examination performed by the orthopedic surgeon can determine if the patient is at increased risk for vascular complications and whether the at-risk limb can withstand the stress of the operation. Consideration should be given to obtaining ankle-brachial indexes in this patient population, noting that arterial calcification may elevate the value. This article presents a case of an immediate preoperative vascular examination, performed at the time of surgical site marking, in an at-risk patient prior to TKA. We detail the clinical course of a patient with peripheral vascular disease and indwelling superficial femoral artery stent, who developed stent thrombosis in the 2-week period between his last clinic visit and date of surgery, with no change in symptoms. This restenosis was detected on routine preoperative physical examination and resulted in cancellation of the TKA in the preoperative area, allowing the patient to undergo emergent revascularization. We emphasize the importance of an immediate preoperative vascular examination in the setting of TKA and provide a comprehensive review of the literature with guidelines on the perioperative management of antiplatelet agents and appropriate use of the tourniquet.

Measurement of lateral acetabular coverage: a comparison between CT and plain radiography

We prospectively evaluated the degree of absolute agreement between measurements of lateral center-edge angle (LCEA) on plain radiography (XR) and computed tomography (CT) in a consecutive cohort of 205 patients (410 hips) undergoing hip arthroscopy. Preoperative measurements of the LCEA were performed bilaterally utilizing standardized anteroposterior radiographs and coronal reformatted CT scans. Demographic variables including age, gender, height, weight, BMI and clinical diagnosis were recorded for all patients. Overall, measured values of the LCEA were 2.1° larger on CT compared with XR (32.9° versus 30.8°, P < 0.001). Subgroup analysis revealed the highest mean difference in hips with acetabular dysplasia and concomitant cam-type femoroacetabular impingement (FAI) [mean difference (CT–XR) 5.5°, 95% confidence interval (CI) 3.7°–7.3°, P = 0.011], followed by hips with isolated acetabular dysplasia (mean difference [CT–XR] 4.9°, 95% CI 2.7°–7.0°, P < 0.001). In contrast, 119 (29.0%) of the hips demonstrated larger measurements of the LCEA on 25 XR relative to CT. Of these hips, 20 (16.8%) had pincer-FAI and 25 had cam-FAI (21.0%), representing a significantly higher proportion compared with all other clinical subgroups (P = 0.045 and 0.036, respectively). Our study demonstrates measured values of the LCEA are consistently inflated on CT relative to XR for a wide variety of hip pathologies, highlighting the need for standardization and validation of CT-based measurements to improve the quality of clinical decision making. Level of Evidence: Diagnostic Level II.

Passive Hip Range of Motion Predicts Femoral Torsion and Acetabular Version

BACKGROUND Orientation abnormalities of the acetabulum and femur have been implicated in early-onset coxarthrosis. The purpose of this study was to identify clinical examination findings predictive of such hip morphologies. METHODS A consecutive cohort of 221 patients (442 hips) undergoing hip arthroscopy was included. Demographic characteristics including age, diagnosis, sex, height, weight, body mass index (BMI), and physical activity level were recorded. Passive range of motion was measured for all hips. Preoperative computed tomography scans were utilized to measure femoral torsion and central acetabular version, and a combined femoral torsion-acetabular version (COTAV) index was defined as their sum. RESULTS The study cohort comprised 221 patients (sixty-four males, 157 females) with a mean age of 32.5 years and mean BMI of 24.2 kg/m(2). Overall, hips with femoral antetorsion and acetabular anteversion exhibited the greatest internal rotation range of motion at a neutral hip position (mean, 44.2°), whereas hips with femoral retrotorsion and acetabular retroversion demonstrated the lowest corresponding value (20.1°; p < 0.001). Femoral torsion was significantly associated with female sex (p < 0.001), BMI (p < 0.001), and presence of pathology corresponding to cam-type femoroacetabular impingement (FAI) (p = 0.044). Central acetabular version was significantly associated with age (p = 0.021), female sex (p < 0.001), and absence of mixed-type FAI pathology (p = 0.025). Increasing age and internal rotation range of motion at a neutral hip position were the most significant predictors of an increased COTAV index. CONCLUSIONS This study confirmed that passive hip range of motion significantly predicts combined femoral torsion and central acetabular version. Accurate clinical assessment of the COTAV index may inform surgical decision-making in hip preservation surgery.

All-Arthroscopic Ligamentum Teres Reconstruction With Graft Fixation at the Femoral Head-Neck Junction

Ligamentum teres (LT) tears are increasingly being recognized as a source of pain and dysfunction in the hip. Although debridement for partial tears of the LT has long been established as the standard of care with good pain relief, reconstruction has been successfully performed in select patients to address concerns of persistent symptomatic instability. The current technique for femoral tunnel preparation carries the added morbidity of open dissection in the peritrochanteric space, an unnecessarily long tunnel with excessive bone removal, and a need for a very long graft due to distal fixation at the lateral femoral cortex. To address these shortcomings, we present a technique for arthroscopic femoral tunnel drilling at the level of the head-neck junction, allowing for an all-arthroscopic LT reconstruction.

A Critical Review: Management and Surgical Options for Articular Defects in the Hip

Patients with articular cartilage lesions of the hip may present with pain and symptoms that may be vague in nature and onset. Therefore, a thorough history and physical examination should be performed for every patient presenting with hip pain and/or disability. The management may be operative or nonoperative. Nonoperative management includes a trial of rest and/or activity modification, along with anti-inflammatory medications, physical therapy, and biologic injections. Operative treatment in the form of arthroscopic techniques continues to decrease morbidity and offer innovative solutions and new applications for microfracture, ACT, and AMIC.

Lateral acetabular coverage as a predictor of femoroacetabular cartilage thickness

To investigate the correlation between femoroacetabular cartilage thickness and lateral acetabular coverage in patients undergoing hip arthroscopy for a variety of indications. Articular cartilage at the hip is hypothesized to undergo adaptive change secondary to unique patterns of pathomechanical loading which results in a direct relationship between acetabular coverage and femoroacetabular cartilage thickness. A cohort of 252 patients presenting to our dedicated hip preservation service between June 2013 and June 2015 were retrospectively analysed. Preoperative radiographs and MRI studies were obtained for all symptomatic hips and classified according to radiographic lateral center edge angle (LCEA) as follows: normal acetabular coverage (25–40°), acetabular overcoverage (≥40°), borderline dysplasia (20–24.9°) and frank dysplasia (<20°). Femoroacetabular cartilage thickness was measured on a preoperative MRI-scan at the fovea, middle sourcil, and lateral sourcil. In all groups, cartilage thickness was maximized at the lateral sourcil relative to the middle sourcil or fovea (P < 0.001). Furthermore, articular cartilage thickness was significantly increased when comparing one group to successive groups with diminished lateral acetabular coverage. Indeed, multivariate analyses confirmed LCEA to be the strongest determinant of femoroacetabular cartilage thickness compared with age, gender, body-mass index or presence of cam/pincer lesions. Patients with borderline and frank dysplasia exhibit increased values of femoroacetabular cartilage thickness in the weight-bearing zone, potentially indicating a compensatory reaction to the lack of bony coverage. Articular cartilage thickness may serve as an instability marker and inform clinical decision-making for patients with borderline dysplasia.

Arthroscopic Anterior Capsular Reconstruction of the Hip for Recurrent Instability.

Symptomatic anterior instability of the hip is typically iatrogenic in nature and poses a challenging problem for the orthopaedist. With early recognition, capsular repair and plication are often effective in restoring stability. Cases involving multiple instability episodes or those with delayed presentation, however, may have patulous and deficient capsular tissue precluding successful capsulorrhaphy. Capsular reconstruction may play an important role in restoring stability in these difficult cases. We present an arthroscopic technique for iliofemoral ligament reconstruction, with Achilles tendon allograft, to address instability of the hip due to anterior capsular deficiency.

Magnetic Resonance Imaging Comparison of Repaired versus Non-Repaired Hip Capsule in Patients Undergoing Hip Arthroscopy for Femoroacetabular Impingement: A Double-Blind, Randomized Controlled Trial

Objectives: Techniques used in hip arthroscopy continue to evolve and controversy surrounds the need for capsule repair following surgical intervention. The purposes of this study were to evaluate the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) appearance of the hip capsule in patients with femoroacetabular impingement (FAI) undergoing hip arthroscopy with capsular repair versus non-repair. Methods: A multicenter clinical trial was performed with 35 patients (50 hips) undergoing hip arthroscopy for treatment of FAI. Each hip was preoperatively randomized to capsular repair versus non-repair. MRI evaluation was performed by a radiologist at 6 and 24 weeks postoperatively. Patients and the radiologist were blinded to the randomization. Capsular defect size and the thickness of the capsule at the capsulotomy site and at locations both proximal and distal to the defect were recorded on each scan to determine their change over time. Results: Compared to patients without capsular repair, those with capsular repair demonstrated significantly decreased mean capsular gapping at articular and muscular portions of the hip capsule at 6 weeks postoperatively (p < 0.001). This difference normalized between the two cohorts by 24 weeks postoperatively, with a significantly decreased mean capsular gapping at articular and muscular attachment sites of the hip capsule compared to 6 weeks postoperatively (p < 0.03). Defects were readily apparent on MRI imaging in regions where the capsule was not repaired. In contrast, irregular capsular thickening without a discrete defect was visible in most cases where the capsule was repaired at the time of arthroscopy. The appearance was variable after 24 weeks. The capsular defects that did close universally showed closure of the defect beginning at the muscular side of the capsule with bridging of capsular tissue then filling in on the articular side. Conclusion: Arthroscopic hip capsule repair results in significantly less capsule gapping at 6-week follow-up compared with non-repair, though the difference in gap size normalizes by 24-week follow-up.

Effect of General Anesthesia on Preoperative Hip Range of Motion in Patients Undergoing Hip Arthroscopy.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of general anesthesia on preoperative passive hip range of motion (ROM) in patients undergoing hip arthroscopy for various indications. A total of 260 consecutive patients undergoing hip arthroscopy were included in this study. Passive hip ROM was evaluated bilaterally in the clinic and subsequently under general anesthesia immediately preoperatively. Demographic variables, including age, height, weight, and clinical diagnosis, were recorded for all patients. Hips with pincer-type femoroacetabular impingement (FAI) and hips with acetabular dysplasia showed a mean increase of 4° and 6°, respectively, in hip external rotation at 90° of hip flexion (ER-90) with induction of anesthesia (P=.018 and P=.021, respectively). In contrast, a statistically significant reduction in hip abduction (2°) and hip flexion (4°) was observed following induction of anesthesia in healthy contralateral hips of patients presenting with unilateral hip pathology (P=.01 and P<.001, respectively). Hip ROM does not change to a clinically significant extent with induction of general anesthesia. Small increases in external rotation in patients with FAI or acetabular dysplasia are within the standard error for ROM measurements. [Orthopedics. 2016; 39(6):e1165-e1169.].