Mid-term outcomes of exercise therapy for the non-surgical management of femoroacetabular impingement syndrome: are short-term effects persisting?

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the mid-term outcomes of exercise therapy in patients with femoroacetabular impingement syndrome (FAIS). DESIGN: Follow-up study. SETTING: Clinical setting. PARTICIPANTS: Twenty-six patients with FAIS who completed a 12-week semi-standardized, progressive exercise therapy program. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: At a mid-term follow-up of 4.6 years, therapy outcome was assessed using (i) the Global Treatment Outcome questionnaire for hip pain, (ii) the Hip Outcome Score (HOS) for hip pain and function in activities of daily living (ADL) and Sport and (iii) the Hip Sports Activity Scale (HSAS) for sport activity level. Mid-term outcomes were compared to pre-symptomatic, pre-therapy, as well as to short-term follow ups (18 weeks). RESULTS: In patients who completed the exercise program and did not undergo hip surgery (N = 19), mid-term HOS ADL and HOS Sport (P = 0.002) were higher than pre-therapy, and comparable to the 18-week follow-up. Mid-term HSAS was lower than the pre-symptomatic status (P = 0.022), but comparable to the 18-week follow-up. CONCLUSION: At a mid-term follow-up of 4.6 years, FAIS patients with no subsequent hip surgery maintained the good exercise therapy outcomes and the level of sport activity achieved at short term.

[From Pathomorphology to Hip Osteoarthritis - Femoroacetabular Impingement as an Example]. / Von der Fehlform zur Coxarthrose ­ Beispiel Hüftimpingement.

From Pathomorphology to Hip Osteoarthritis - Femoroacetabular Impingement as an Example Abstract. Femoroacetabular impingement (FAI) occurs due to abnormal morphology and subsequent contact between the proximal femur and the acetabulum and can be a source of labral and chondral damage in the hip joint. While there is evidence that Cam-type FAI is correlated with hip osteoarthritis, there is yet no clear link between osteoarthritis and Pincer-FAI in which primarily the labrum gets injured. Hips with evident deformity and beginning chondral and/or labral damage should undergo surgery. Most cases (80-90 %) can be successfully treated by hip arthroscopy. At the time of surgery, the typical FAI-patient is 30 years old. With correct indication and proper surgical technique, favorable outcomes are achieved in more than 80 % of the cases at a short- to mid-term follow-up.

Is There a Scientific Rationale for the Refixation of Delaminated Chondral Flaps in Femoroacetabular Impingement? A Laboratory Study.

BACKGROUND: Debonding of the acetabular cartilage is a characteristic type of hip damage found in cam-type femoroacetabular impingement (FAI), which remains a treatment challenge. In addition to resection, refixation of these flaps using fibrin sealants has been recently suggested. However, there is only limited evidence available that the proposed refixation method results in sufficient viable cartilage formation to ensure long-term flap grafting and restored tissue function. QUESTIONS/PURPOSES: To determine the flap tissue characteristics that would justify refixation of delaminated chondral flaps with a fibrin sealant, we characterized (1) the extracellular matrix (ECM) of chondral flaps in terms of chondrocyte viability and distribution of ECM components and (2) the chondrogenic potential of resident cells to migrate into fibrin and produce a cartilaginous matrix. METHODS: Ten acetabular chondral flaps and three non-delaminated control cartilage samples were resected during surgery. Chondrocyte viability was quantified using a live-dead assay. To assess the ECM, histological staining of glycosaminoglycans, collagen II, and collagen I allowed the qualitative study of their distribution. The ability of chondrocytes to migrate out of the ECM was tested by encapsulating minced flap cartilage in fibrin gels and semi-quantitatively assessing the projected area of the gel covered with migrating cells. The potential of chondrocytes to produce a cartilaginous matrix was studied with a pellet assay, a standard three-dimensional culture system to test chondrogenesis. Positive controls were pellets of knee chondrocytes of age-matched donors, which we found in a previous study to have a good capacity to produce cartilage matrix. Statistical significance of controlled quantitative assays was determined by the Student's t-test with Welch's correction. RESULTS: The proportion of viable chondrocytes in flaps was lower than in nondelaminated cartilage (50% ± 19% versus 76 ± 6%; p = 0.02). Histology showed a disrupted ECM in flaps compared with nondelaminated controls, with the presence of fibrillation, a loss of glycosaminoglycan at the delaminated edge, collagen II throughout the whole thickness of the flap, and some collagen I-positive area in two samples. The resident chondrocytes migrated out of this disrupted ECM in all tested samples. However in pellet culture, cells isolated from the flaps showed a qualitatively lower chondrogenic potential compared with positive controls, with a clearly inhomogeneous cell and matrix distribution and an overall smaller projected area (0.4 versus 0.7 mm; p = 0.038). CONCLUSION: Despite the presence of viable chondrocytes with migration potential, the cells resided in a structurally altered ECM and had limited capacity to deposit ECM, leading us to question their capacity to produce sufficient ECM within the fibrin sealant for stable long-term attachment of such flaps. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: The characterization of delaminated cartilage in cam FAI patients suggests that the refixation strategy might be adversely influenced by the low level of ECM produced by the residing cells.

Hip muscle strength asymmetries and their associations with hip morphology and symptoms are sex-specific in patients with femoroacetabular impingement syndrome.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate sex-specific differences in hip muscle strength asymmetries, and associations between hip abductor and flexor strength asymmetries, hip morphology and symptoms in patients with femoroacetabular impingement syndrome (FAIS). DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. SETTING: Clinical setting. PARTICIPANTS: Thirty-four patients with FAIS (21 women, 13 men). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Side-to-side strength asymmetries of hip adductor, abductor, internal and external rotator, flexor and extensor muscles were assessed using dynamometry, while hip pain during contractions was evaluated with a visual analogue scale. Hip morphology was assessed on anteroposterior pelvic radiographs and magnetic resonance arthrography images. Hip symptoms were evaluated using the Oxford Hip Score (OHS). RESULTS: Women presented larger hip flexor strength asymmetries than men. In women, hip abductor asymmetries correlated with the OHS and with hip pain during muscle contraction. Hip flexor asymmetries correlated with the alpha angle in men. CONCLUSION: Patients with FAIS demonstrated sex-specific hip muscle strength asymmetries and associations with the underlying hip symptoms and morphology. Women showed larger hip flexor strength asymmetries than men, and their hip abductor strength asymmetries were associated with hip symptoms. In contrast, hip flexor strength asymmetries in men were associated with the severity of the underlying cam morphology.

Patient Expectations about Communication in the Perioperative Setting of Elective Knee Surgery - a Questionnaire-based Cross-sectional Study.

BACKGROUND: Patient expectations are an issue which is attracting increased interest in outcome research for knee surgery procedures. So far, research into patient expectations has mainly focused on the procedure and postoperative functional improvements. The purpose of this study was to identify patient expectations in the perioperative setting. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This was a single-center prospective study. A 17-item questionnaire (ordinal answer scale) about patients' perioperative expectations was developed and completed by patients undergoing elective joint-preserving knee surgery. The study covered a period of 3 months and included all patients consecutively undergoing knee surgery. Subgroup analysis was performed for gender, age and type of insurance. RESULTS: 111 consecutive patients completed the questionnaire on admission. Significant preferences for one answer option were found for 13 out of 17 items. Patients considered it "unimportant" whether or not the physician wore a white coat during the consultation and "very important" that the first medical consultation after the patient was discharged from hospital was with the surgeon who had performed their operation. A concise explanation of the surgical procedure using images, talking to the surgeon the day before surgery and immediately after surgery, having their wound personally inspected by the surgeon, and, finally, the availability of the surgeon by phone were regarded as "important". There were no differences in patient responses between the different subgroups. CONCLUSION: Patients expect a high personal commitment and availability of the surgeon during the entire perioperative setting, starting from the first consultation and continuing during follow-up examinations.

Exercise Therapy for the Management of Femoroacetabular Impingement Syndrome: Preliminary Results of Clinical Responsiveness.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the responsiveness to exercise therapy of patients with femoroacetabular impingement syndrome (FAIS), and to investigate differences in hip function, strength, and morphology between responders versus nonresponders. METHODS: Patients with FAIS underwent 12 weeks of semi-standardized and progressive exercise therapy. A good therapy outcome (responders) versus a poor therapy outcome (nonresponders) was determined at week 18 with the Global Treatment Outcome questionnaire for hip pain. Hip function was evaluated using the Hip Outcome Score (HOS) activities of daily living (ADL) and Sport at baseline, and at weeks 6, 12, and 18. Hip muscle strength and dynamic pelvic control were evaluated using dynamometry and video analysis, respectively, at baseline, week 12, and week 18. Hip morphology was evaluated with imaging at baseline. RESULTS: Thirty-one patients (mean age 24 years) were included. Sixteen patients (52%) were responsive and 15 patients (48%) were not responsive to exercise therapy. Only responders improved HOS ADL and HOS Sport by 10 points (95% confidence interval [95% CI] 7, 14; P < 0.001) and by 20 points (95% CI 15, 25; P < 0.001), respectively, and hip abductor strength by 0.27 Nm/kg (95% CI 0.18, 0.36; P < 0.001). The prevalence of patients showing good dynamic pelvic control only increased in responders (44%; P = 0.029). The prevalence of severe cam morphology was higher in nonresponders than in responders (40% versus 6%; P = 0.037). CONCLUSION: Half of patients with FAIS benefit from exercise therapy in the short term. Responsiveness to hip abductor strength and dynamic pelvic control improvements is associated with a good therapy outcome, whereas the presence of severe cam morphology is associated with a poor therapy outcome.

Clinical Rating of Movement-Pattern Quality in Patients With Femoroacetabular Impingement Syndrome: A Methodological Study.

Study Design Cross-sectional study. Objectives To evaluate intrarater and interrater agreement among physical therapists with different clinical experience in performing a visual rating of movement-pattern quality of patients with femoroacetabular impingement (FAI) syndrome using a semi-quantitative scale. Background Visual rating of movement patterns in patients with FAI syndrome is of interest, because poor control of dynamic hip motion is frequently noted. Methods A video camera was used to record the performance of 34 patients with FAI syndrome performing single-limb standing, squat, frontal lunge, hop lunge, bridge, and plank. Visual rating of movement, as recorded on video, was performed by a highly experienced, a moderately experienced, and a novice physical therapist on 2 occasions using a semi-quantitative scale. Hip abductor strength was assessed using dynamometry, and hip pain and function were assessed with a patient-reported questionnaire. Intrarater and interrater agreement among physical therapists was evaluated using Gwet's agreement coefficient 1. Construct validity was evaluated as the association between physical therapists' rating and patients' hip abductor strength, pain, and function. Results Good intrarater and interrater agreement was observed in the highly experienced and moderately experienced physical therapists when rating single-limb standing, bridge, and plank. Poor to moderate intrarater and interrater agreement was found when they rated squat, frontal lunge, and hop lunge. Poor performers, as rated by the highly experienced physical therapist only, demonstrated lower hip abductor strength (P<.05), and similar hip pain and hip function compared to those of good performers. Conclusion Movement-pattern quality of patients with FAI syndrome should be rated by a highly experienced physical therapist. J Orthop Sports Phys Ther 2018;48(4):260-269. doi:10.2519/jospt.2018.7840.

Outcome of Hip Impingement Surgery: Does Generalized Joint Hypermobility Matter?

BACKGROUND: Generalized joint hypermobility (JH) might negatively influence the results of surgical femoroacetabular impingement (FAI) treatment, as JH has been linked to musculoskeletal pain and injury incidence in athletes. JH may also be associated with worse outcomes of FAI surgery in thin females. PURPOSE: To (1) determine the results of FAI surgery at a minimum 2-year follow-up by means of patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) and failure rates, (2) assess the prevalence of JH in FAI patients and its effect on outcomes, and (3) identify other risk factors associated with treatment failure. STUDY DESIGN: Cohort study; Level of evidence, 3. METHODS: We included 232 consecutive patients (118 females; mean age, 36 years) with 244 hips surgically treated for symptomatic FAI between 2010 and 2012. All patients completed different PROMs preoperatively and at a mean follow-up of 3.7 years. Satisfaction questions were used to define subjective failure (answering any of the 2 subjective questions with dissatisfied/ very dissatisfied and/or didn't help/ made things worse). Conversion to total hip replacement (THR) was defined as objective failure. JH was assessed using the Beighton score. RESULTS: All PROM values significantly ( P < .001) improved from preoperative measurement to follow-up (Oxford Hip Score: 33.8 to 42.4; University of California at Los Angeles Activity Scale: 6.3 to 7.3; EuroQol-5 Dimension Index: 0.58 to 0.80). Overall, 34% of patients scored ≥4 on the Beighton score, and 18% scored ≥6, indicating generalized JH. Eleven hips (4.7%) objectively failed and were converted to THR. Twenty-four patients (10.3%) were considered as subjective failures. No predictive risk factors were identified for subjective failure. Tönnis grade significantly ( P < .001) predicted objective failure (odds ratio, 13; 95% CI, 4-45). There was a weak inverse association ( r = -0.16 to -0.30) between Beighton scores and preoperative PROM values. There were no significant associations between Beighton scores and postoperative PROM values or subjective failure rates, but patients who objectively failed had lower Beighton scores than did nonfailures (1.6 vs 2.6; P = .049). CONCLUSION: FAI surgery yielded favorable outcomes at short- to midterm follow-up. JH as assessed by the Beighton score was not consistently associated with subjective and objective results. Joint degeneration was the most important risk factor for conversion to THR. Although statistical significance was not reached, female patients with no joint degeneration, only mild FAI deformity, and higher Oxford scores at the time of surgery seemed to be at increased risk for subjective dissatisfaction.

Pain, activities of daily living and sport function at different time points after hip arthroscopy in patients with femoroacetabular impingement: a systematic review with meta-analysis.

AIM: To investigate pain, activities of daily living (ADL) function, sport function, quality of life and satisfaction at different time points after hip arthroscopy in patients with femoroacetabular impingement (FAI). DESIGN: Systematic review with meta-analysis. Weighted mean differences between preoperative and postoperative outcomes were calculated and used for meta-analysis. DATA SOURCES: EMBASE, MEDLINE, SportsDiscus, CINAHL, Cochrane Library, and PEDro. ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA FOR SELECTING STUDIES: Studies that evaluated hip pain, ADL function, sport function and quality of life before and after hip arthroscopy and postoperative satisfaction in patients with symptomatic FAI. RESULTS: Twenty-six studies (22 case series, 3 cohort studies, 1 randomised controlled trial (RCT)) were included in the systematic review and 19 in the meta-analysis. Clinically relevant pain and ADL function improvements were first reported between 3 and 6 months, and sport function improvements between 6 months and 1 year after surgery. It is not clear when quality of life improvements were first achieved. On average, residual mild pain and ADL and sport function scores lower than their healthy counterparts were reported by patients following surgery. Postoperative patient satisfaction ranged from 68% to 100%. CONCLUSIONS: On average, patients reported earlier pain and ADL function improvements, and slower sport function improvements after hip arthroscopy for FAI. However, average scores from patients indicate residual mild hip pain and/or hip function lower than their healthy counterparts after surgery. Owing to the current low level of evidence, future RCTs and cohort studies should investigate the effectiveness of hip arthroscopy in patients with FAI. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: CRD42015019649.

Sonographic prevalence of groin hernias and adductor tendinopathy in patients with femoroacetabular impingement.

BACKGROUND: Femoroacetabular impingement (FAI) is a common debilitating condition that is associated with groin pain and limitation in young and active patients. Besides FAI, various disorders such as hernias, adductor tendinopathy, athletic pubalgia, lumbar spine affections, and others can cause similar symptoms. PURPOSE: To determine the prevalence of inguinal and/or femoral herniation and adductor insertion tendinopathy using dynamic ultrasound in a cohort of patients with radiographic evidence of FAI. STUDY DESIGN: Case series; Level of evidence, 4. METHODS: This retrospective study consisted of 74 patients (36 female and 38 male; mean age, 29 years; 83 symptomatic hips) with groin pain and radiographic evidence of FAI. In addition to the usual diagnostic algorithm, all patients underwent a dynamic ultrasound examination for signs of groin herniation and tendinopathy of the proximal insertion of the adductors. RESULTS: Evidence of groin herniation was found in 34 hips (41%). There were 27 inguinal (6 female, 21 male) and 10 femoral (9 female, 1 male) hernias. In 3 cases, inguinal and femoral herniation was coexistent. Overall, 5 patients underwent subsequent hernia repair. Patients with groin herniation were significantly older than those without (33 vs 27 years, respectively; P = .01). There were no significant differences for any of the radiographic or clinical parameters. Tendinopathy of the proximal adductor insertion was detected in 19 cases (23%; 11 female, 8 male). Tendinopathy was coexistent with groin herniation in 8 of the 19 cases. There were no significant differences for any of the radiographic or clinical parameters between patients with or without tendinopathy. Patients with a negative diagnostic hip injection result were more likely to have a concomitant groin hernia than those with a positive injection result (80% vs 27%, respectively). Overall, 38 hips underwent FAI surgery with satisfactory outcomes in terms of score values and subjective improvement. CONCLUSION: The results demonstrate that groin herniation and adductor insertion tendinopathy coexist frequently in patients with FAI. Although the clinical effect is yet unclear, 5 patients underwent hernia repair. Dynamic ultrasound is a useful tool to detect such pathological abnormalities. Diagnostic hip injections can be helpful to differentiate between the sources of pain.

Women demonstrate more pain and worse function before THA but comparable results 12 months after surgery.

BACKGROUND: Many studies report differences in patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) for men and women undergoing total hip arthroplasty (THA). Few studies have evaluated whether these are explained by corresponding differences in important preoperative factors. QUESTIONS/PURPOSES: (1) Are there differences between men and women in PROM scores preoperatively and 12 months after THA? (2) Do baseline differences in comorbidity, age, body mass index (BMI), and mental health status explain these differences in PROM scores? METHODS: Preoperatively, 300 patients completed the Oxford Hip Score (OHS), WOMAC, and SF-12; 261 (86%) of them (129 women, 64 ± 11 years; 132 men, 66 ± 10 years) completed the same questionnaires 12 months postoperatively and also rated the acceptability of their current symptoms and change in general health. RESULTS: Preoperatively, women showed worse scores than men in the OHS (-1.9; 95% confidence interval, -3.6 to -0.3) and WOMAC (-6.3; -10.9 to -1.7). At 12 months postoperatively, the absolute scores for all PROMs were not significantly different. After controlling for BMI, age, comorbidity, SF-12 mental health scores, and sociodemographic characteristics, the baseline differences remained. CONCLUSIONS: Surgeons may be more reluctant to operate on women than men because they perceive that, because of their worse baseline status, women are likely to have worse outcomes; however, given that we found no evidence for differences in patient-reported outcomes at 12 months, these suspicions would appear to be unfounded. Women and men can be expected to benefit to a similar extent from THA. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level III, therapeutic study.

Clinical improvement and satisfaction after total joint replacement: a prospective 12-month evaluation on the patients' perspective.

PURPOSE: To determine short-term improvements, satisfaction rates and the patient acceptable symptom state (PASS) after total joint replacement (TJR) for different patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs). METHODS: This prospective cohort study included 426 consecutive patients undergoing total hip (n = 193) or knee arthroplasty (n = 233). The following PROMs were completed before TJR, and at 3, 6 and 12 months after surgery, respectively: WOMAC, Oxford Hip or Knee Score, Lower Extremity Functional Scale, University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA) activity scale and EuroQol-5 dimension (EQ-5D). Satisfaction rates and the PASS thresholds were also assessed. RESULTS: THA patients improved quicker and achieved higher outcome scores than TKA patients. Comorbidities according to the Sangha score were moderately correlated with all PROM values in an inverse direction at all time points (r = -0.27 to -0.47, p < 0.01) in both groups. Satisfaction with the result of surgery improved over time. At 12 months, more than 90 % of the patients were satisfied or very satisfied with the achieved result. The THA group showed a higher proportion of very satisfied patients than the TKA group at all time points. PASS thresholds increased over time for all PROMs except for the UCLA and the EQ-5D in TKA patients. CONCLUSIONS: More than 90 % of the patients will be satisfied 1 year after TJR. THA patients recover faster than TKA patients, i.e., they achieve higher PROM values at earlier follow-up time points. Cutoff values defining a successful result in terms of the PASS could be defined for all PROMs at different time points and can serve as reference for future studies and patient-oriented follow-ups.

Validation of the Core Outcome Measures Index in Patients With Femoroacetabular Impingement.

PURPOSE: To evaluate a short, hip-oriented outcome instrument, based on the Core Outcome Measures Index (COMI), in patients undergoing surgery for femoroacetabular impingement (FAI). METHODS: The following full-length questionnaires were completed preoperatively and at 6 and 12 months postoperatively by 159 consecutive FAI patients: Hip Outcome Score (HOS); Oxford Hip Score; Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Arthritis Index; Short Form 12 Health Survey; World Health Organization Quality of Life questionnaire, short version; and EuroQol-Five Dimensional index. The scores for the 6 hip-oriented Core Outcome Measures Index (COMI-Hip) items-addressing pain, function, symptom-specific well-being, quality of life, and disability-were extracted from established full-length questionnaires, and their performance as an index was compared with that of the full-length instruments. RESULTS: Scores for the single items of the COMI-Hip questionnaire correlated well with the scores for the corresponding full-length instruments from which they were extracted (r = -0.89 to -0.62, P < .001). The COMI-Hip sum score also correlated well with the Oxford Hip Score and the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Arthritis Index pain and function scores (r = -0.85 to -0.70, P < .001), as well as with the HOS (r = -0.72 to -0.60, P < .001), an instrument specifically developed for assessing FAI patients. Internal responsiveness (Cohen d for effect size) of the COMI-Hip sum score from preoperatively to 12 months postoperatively was similar to that of the HOS activities-of-daily living subscale (d = -0.76 and d = -0.68, respectively; P < .001). Significant correlations were found between the change scores of the COMI-Hip sum score and those of the HOS activities-of-daily living and sport subscales at 6 months (r = -0.62 and r = -0.60, respectively; P < .001) and 12 months (r = -0.69 and r = -0.61, respectively; P < .001), showing the external responsiveness of the COMI-Hip. CONCLUSIONS: The COMI-Hip is a simple yet valid and responsive outcome instrument for the efficient assessment of patients undergoing surgery for FAI. It performs at least as well as the current reference instrument for FAI, the HOS, and can therefore be considered a potentially valuable instrument for routine use in both research and clinical practice. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level II, development of diagnostic criteria based on consecutive patients (with universally applied reference gold standard).

Preferred patient-rated outcome measure in patients with femoroacetabular impingement: a comparison between selected instruments.

The first aim of this study was to establish which questionnaire patients with femoroacetabular impingement (FAI) most often preferred out of a set of self-reported generic and region/joint-specific outcome measures. A second aim was to evaluate their preferred type of response scale. One hundred and sixty-two consecutive FAI patients undergoing surgery (51% females, age 32 [SD 12] years, body mass index 24 [SD 4] kg/m(2)) completed five specific questionnaires [Hip Outcome Score (HOS), Oxford Hip Score (OHS), Hip disability and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score, self-administered Harris Hip Score and Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Arthritis Index] and three generic questionnaires (WHO Quality of Life-BREF, EuroQoL and 12-Item Short Form Survey). In addition, the patients completed the International Physical Activity Questionnaire, a questionnaire on expectation, and two sports activity scales (TEGNER and UCLA). Patients were asked to indicate the questionnaires that best reflected their situation, the most difficult to complete, and had the preferred response scale. 64% indicated a joint specific questionnaire as the one that best addressed their situation, with 27 and 20% choosing the HOS and the OHS, respectively. Most patients (62%) expressed no difficulties completing the questionnaires: just 12% considered the IPAQ difficult to complete, and 6% the HOS. The preferred response scale was the adjectival scale (57%), compared with the Numeric Rating Scale (39%) and the VAS (4%). This study showed that patients with FAI consider joint-specific instruments to be most relevant to them, in particular the HOS and OHS, and generally prefer responding on an adjectival scale.

The German Lower Extremity Functional Scale (LEFS) is reliable, valid and responsive in patients undergoing hip or knee replacement.

PURPOSE: To determine the measurement properties of a German version of the Lower Extremity Functional Scale (LEFS) in patients with hip or knee osteoarthritis undergoing total joint replacement (TJR). METHODS: This prospective cohort study included 486 consecutive patients. The LEFS and other self-reported outcome measures were administered at different time points and several classical measurement properties were determined. RESULTS: The German LEFS was highly reliable (ICC 0.98) and internally consistent (CA 0.95). Construct validity was proven by large to very large correlations (r = 0.52-0.91) with all other instruments in the expected directions. Factor analysis using a polychoric correlation matrix revealed two factors at baseline and 6 months explaining about 70% of the total variance. There were no floor or ceiling effects for the total score, but significant floor effects for the single items 16-19 at baseline. The LEFS was highly responsive at 6 months. CONCLUSIONS: The German LEFS proved to be a reliable, valid and responsive tool for the self-assessment of patients undergoing total hip or knee replacement. Nevertheless, the questionnaire seems to summarize more than one construct as highlighted by the factor analysis. Further research seems therefore warranted.

Validity, reproducibility, and responsiveness of the oxford hip score in patients undergoing surgery for femoroacetabular impingement.

PURPOSE: To examine the validity, reproducibility, and responsiveness of the Oxford Hip Score (OHS) in patients with femoroacetabular impingement (FAI). METHODS: One hundred twenty-six consecutive patients with FAI and 550 patients undergoing total hip arthroplasty (THA) completed the OHS and the Hip Outcome Score (HOS) at baseline and at 6 and 12 months postoperatively. The patients also rated the global treatment outcome ("How much did the operation help your hip problem?") on a 5-point Likert scale. Sixty-eight FAI and 96 THA patients completed the OHS twice within 2 weeks so that we could assess its reproducibility. RESULTS: The reproducibility of the OHS was good and was similar for THA and FAI patients (standard error of measurement of 5.6% for THA and 6.2% for FAI and intraclass correlation coefficient of 0.97 for both FAI and THA). In the FAI group, the correlations between the OHS and HOS subscale scores were strong (r = 0.67 to 0.85). The internal responsiveness (standardized response mean) of the OHS in FAI patients was high and similar to that of the HOS (from 0.84 to 1.48 for the OHS and from 0.75 to 1.53 for the HOS). External responsiveness was confirmed by the strong correlations between the change scores for the 2 instruments (r = 0.60 to 0.76) and between the change scores of the OHS and the global treatment outcome score (r = 0.52 to 0.60). No floor or ceiling effects were found, and internal consistency was high (Cronbach α = 0.94). Exploratory factor analysis showed a 2-factor structure for the OHS in both the THA and FAI groups. CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that the OHS, though originally developed for patients undergoing THA, represents an appropriate outcome instrument for assessing pain and function in FAI patients treated with arthroscopy or mini-open surgery. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level III, diagnostic study of consecutive patients (without consistently applied reference gold standard).

No regeneration of the human acetabular labrum after excision to bone.

BACKGROUND: Treatment options for a symptomatic, torn, irreparable, or completely ossified acetabular labrum are limited to either excision and/or reconstruction with grafts. In a previous animal model, regeneration of the acetabular labrum after excision to the bony rim has been shown. In humans, less is known about the potential of regeneration of the labrum. Recent studies seem to confirm labral regrowth, but it is still unclear if wide excision might be a surgical option in cases where repair is not possible. QUESTIONS/PURPOSES: The purposes of this study were (1) to determine the extent of acetabular labrum regeneration after excision to the bony rim; and (2) to determine whether this procedure results in higher hip scores. METHODS: We reviewed all patients treated with surgical dislocation for symptomatic femoroacetabular impingement by a single surgeon at one institution between 2003 and 2008, of whom 14 underwent wide labral excision (of at least 60°) down to bone; we used this approach when there was an absence of reparable tissue. Of these 14, nine were available for voluntary reexamination. The mean age at surgery was 38 ± 9 SD years and the mean followup was 4 ± 1 SD years. All patients consented to a physical examination and an MRI arthrogram, which was evaluated for evidence of new tissue formation by four observers. A modified Harris hip score and the UCLA were recorded. RESULTS: Regrowth of a structure equivalent to normal labrum was not observed on the MRI arthrograms. Six of nine hips had segmental defects, bone formation was found in five, and the capsule was confluent with the new tissue in six. The mean Harris hip score at latest followup was 83 ± 14, and the mean UCLA score was 6 ± 2. CONCLUSIONS: Resection of a nonreparable acetabular labrum down to a bleeding bony surface does not stimulate regrowth of tissue that appears to be capable of normal function by MR arthrography, and patients who underwent this procedure had lower hip scores at midterm than previously reported from the same institution for patients undergoing labral repair or sparse débridement. Based on these results, we believe that future studies should evaluate alternatives to reconstructing the labrum, perhaps using ligamentum teres, because resection seems neither to result in regrowth nor the restoration of consistently high hip scores.

Inside-Out Trans-Arthroscopic Drain Application During Knee Joint Arthroscopy.

Although knee joint arthroscopy is one of the most frequently performed surgical procedures worldwide, there is no consensus on how to apply a drain in the joint if it is decided to use one. Therefore we describe a simple technique to safely apply a drain intra-articularly under full arthroscopic control, avoiding placement of the drain through the arthroscopic portal.