Femoroacetabular Impingement Negates the Acetabular Labral Seal During Pivoting Maneuvers but Not Gait

Background

Experimental disruption of the labrum has been shown to compromise its sealing function and alter cartilage lubrication. However, it is not known whether pathological changes to the labrum secondary to femoroacetabular impingement (FAI) have a similar impact on labral function.

Questions/purposes

Does damage to the labrum occurring in association with abnormal femoral morphology affect the labral seal?

Methods

Using 10 fresh cadaveric specimens (mean age 50 years, ± 8), we measured the capacity of the central compartment of the hip (the iliofemoral joint) to maintain a seal during fluid infusion, which may help elucidate the function of the labrum during weightbearing. Specimens with and without abnormal femoral morphology (six normal-appearing specimens and four whose geometry suggested cam-type FAI) were tested in postures observed during functional activities, including simulations of normal gait, stooping, and pivoting. Each specimen with FAI morphology exhibited secondary damage of the labrum and the adjacent chondral surface, whereas specimens of normal morphology were undamaged.

Results

Average peak central compartment pressure was reduced during pivoting for specimens with the presence of labral damage secondary to FAI. When placed in pivoting positions, hips with FAI maintained lower fluid pressures within the central compartment compared with intact specimens (15 ± 3 versus 42 ± 8 kPa, respectively; effect size: 1.08 [−0.36 to 2.31]; p = 0.007). No differences in peak pressure were observed between groups (FAI versus normal) for postures simulating either gait (21 ± 6 versus 22 ± 4 kPa; p = 0.902) or stooping (9 ± 2 versus 8 ± 3 kPa; p = 0.775) with the numbers available.

Conclusions

The acetabular seal, quantified by the maximum intraarticular pressure, was reduced during pivoting; however, the seal was maintained during simulated gait and stooping.

Clinical Relevance

Because degeneration is progressive with repetitive impingement, loss of the labral seal starts to be seen during pivoting and may progress from there, but in this small-sample cadaver study that evaluated specimens in middle adulthood, the seal remains intact during simulated gait and stooping. Our study suggests that labral damage secondary to cam-type FAI may reduce the ability of the labral to provide an adequate seal of the central compartment of the hip during loading; however, the extent to which this is affected requires further investigation.     

Femoral Neck Exostosis,a Manifestation of Cam/Pincer Combined Femoroacetabular Impingement

We present 2 cases of cam/pincer combined femoroacetabular impingement treated arthroscopically with labral debridement, acetabuloplasty, and femoral head recontouring. In both cases there was essentially no evidence of osteoarthritis of the hip. However, in both cases raised exostoses were evident on the anterolateral femoral neck in the region that commonly comes into contact with the acetabular rim. On the basis of 3-dimensional dynamic reconstructions, we surmise that these exostoses are a direct result of linear contact between the femoral neck and acetabular rim. We recommend that the presence of these exostoses be carefully noted by the arthroscopic hip surgeon and that they be a geographic marker of the zone of contact between the head-neck junction and the acetabular rim and a guide for the area of head osteochondroplasty in combination with appropriate treatment of the acetabular rim.     

An Increase in Cranial Acetabular Version With Age: Implications for Femoroacetabular Impingement

This cadaveric study aimed to determine if acetabular retroversion demonstrates predictable changes with age that could inform understanding of factors that may contribute to the pathophysiology of femoroacetabular impingement. Two-hundred forty pelves were divided into young and old groups. Version was measured at the cranial (5 mm below superior rim), central (transverse of acetabulum), and caudal (5 mm above inferior rim) locations. The data showed a significant difference between young (10 ± 10°) and old (13 ± 9°) cranial version (P = .02). Cranial retroversion increases with age and may reflect a developmental component in the etiology of the focal rim impingement lesion or ossification of the damaged labrum. Global acetabular retroversion does not appear to change with age and may reflect a congenital etiology.     

Functional Acetabular Orientation Varies Between Supine and Standing Radiographs: Implications for Treatment of Femoroacetabular Impingement

BackgroundOften, anteroposterior (AP) pelvic radiographs are performed with the patient positioned supine. However, this may not represent the functional position of the pelvis and the acetabulum, and so when assessing patients for conditions like femoroacetabular impingement (FAI), it is possible that standing radiographs better incorporate the dynamic influences of periarticular musculature and sagittal balance. However, this thesis remains largely untested.Questions/purposesThe purpose of this study was to determine the effect of supine and standing pelvic orientation on (1) measurements of acetabular version and common radiographic signs of FAI as assessed on two- and three-dimensional (3-D) imaging; and (2) on terminal hip range of motion (ROM).MethodsPreoperative pelvic CT scans of 50 patients (50 hips) who underwent arthroscopic surgery for the treatment of FAI between July 2013 and October 2014 were analyzed. The mean age of the study population was 29 ± 10 years (range, 15–50 years) and 70% were male. All patients had a standing AP pelvis radiograph, a reconstructed supine radiograph from the CT data, and a 3-D model created to allow manipulation of pelvic tilt and simulate ROM to osseous contact. Acetabular version was measured and the presence of the crossover sign, prominent ischial spine sign, and posterior wall sign were recorded on simulated plain radiographs. Measurements of ROM to bony impingement were made during (1) simulated hip flexion; (2) simulated internal rotation in 90° of flexion (IRF); and (3) simulated internal rotation in 90° of flexion and 15° adduction (FADIR), and the location of bony contact between the proximal femur and acetabular rim was defined. These measurements were calculated for supine and standing pelvic orientations. A paired Student’s t-test was used for comparison of continuous variables, whereas chi square testing was used for categorical variables. A p value of < 0.05 was considered significant.ResultsWhen changing from supine to the standing radiographs, both mean cranial and central version increased by 2° ± 4° (95% confidence interval [CI], 1°–3°) and 2° ± 3° (95% CI, 1°–3°), respectively (both p < 0.001). However, with the numbers available, there were no changes in the proportion of positive crossover, posterior wall, and prominent ischial spine signs. Standing pelvic position tilt resulted in an increased hip flexion of 3° (95% CI, 2°–4°) as well as an increase in IRF of 2° (95% CI, 1°–3°) and FADIR of 3° (95% CI, 2°–4°) (all p < 0.001).ConclusionsThe functional orientation of the acetabulum varies between supine and standing radiographs and must be considered when diagnosing and treating patients with symptomatic FAI. Standing pelvic orientation results in posterior pelvic tilt and later occurrence of FAI in the arc of motion. Although we cannot recommend standing radiographs on the current study alone, we do recommend larger studies to determine whether any significant differences truly exist.

Level of Evidence

Level III, diagnostic study.     

Editorial Commentary: Cam Femoroacetabular Impingement Requires Dynamic Assessment of Beta-Angle (Femoroacetabular Excursion Angle) and Consideration of Femoral and Acetabular Version: Cam Impingement in Patients With Acetabular or Femoral Retroversion May Warrant Greater Osteoplasty

Radiographs, magnetic resonance imaging, and computed tomography scans have been commonly used to evaluate femoroacetabular impingement (FAI) and are well accepted forms of surgical planning. Assessing and addressing both the femoral and acetabular sides result in a combination of “one-sided” treatments that, in sum, net a successful treatment of FAI. However, combining one-sided approaches may not consider the dynamic interaction of the femoral head with the acetabulum. Elevated alpha angles alone can be indicative of a cam-type lesion without necessitating the presence of functional FAI. The presence of a cam-type lesion on lateral radiographs, as suggested by a positive alpha angle, does not necessitate a decrease in clearance between the femoral head and acetabular rim as measured by the beta angle. Assessment of the beta angle, or femoroacetabular excursion angle, has the potential to address dynamic nature of FAI more accurately by directly measuring the degree of clearance between the femoral head and acetabulum. In addition, a comprehensive assessment of physical examination findings, particularly range of motion, as well as a summation of acetabular and femoral version (as measured by the McKibbin Index), are required. Cam-type of FAI poses a larger challenge in the patient with acetabular or femoral retroversion, which may warrant greater and more localized osteoplasty, distally, during hip arthroscopy.     

Combination of Anterior Acetabular Coverage and Femoral Head Shape Predicts Femoroacetabular Impingement After Periacetabular Osteotomy

BackgroundFemoroacetabular impingement (FAI) after periacetabular osteotomy (PAO) may be affected by both anterior acetabular coverage and femoral head shape. This study aimed to radiographically evaluate the relationship of the combination of acetabular coverage and femoral head shape with the occurrence of FAI after curved PAO.MethodsIn this study, 76 hip joints from patients with symptomatic developmental dysplasia of the hip underwent curved PAO. The relationship between the combined postoperative anterior center-edge and alpha angles (ie, the combination angle) and the occurrence of postoperative FAI was evaluated. Clinical factors and the preoperative and postoperative 3-dimensional center-edge angles, acetabular versions, femoral versions, radiographic alpha angles of the femoral head, and the combination angle were measured and compared to clinical outcomes.ResultsThe modified Harris Hip Scores, University of California, Los Angeles activity scores, and acetabular coverage angles were significantly improved following curved PAO. Receiver operator characteristic curve analysis demonstrated that the combination angle over 108° may be a predictive factor for the occurrence of FAI after curved PAO. Multivariate analysis demonstrated that an age <40 years (odds ratio 6.6, 95% confidence interval 1.2-36.4, P = .037) and a combination angle <108° (odds ratio 9.2, 95% confidence interval 1.7-50.0, P = .010) were significantly associated with modified Harris Hip Scores ≧90 points.ConclusionA combination angle >108° may be a predictive factor for the occurrence of FAI after curved PAO and impaired clinical outcomes. To avoid postoperative FAI, we propose that osteochondroplasty of the femoral head should be performed for patients with preoperative combination angles >90°.     

Surgical Treatment of Femoroacetabular Impingement: What Are the Limits of Hip Arthroscopy?

The variety of hip pathology that can be addressed in a minimally invasive fashion in the young, pre-arthritic patient has rapidly grown in parallel with technical advances in hip arthroscopy. However, the indications and limits of arthroscopy must be carefully defined and indications must evolve correspondingly to avoid an increase in failure rates and unsatisfactory clinical outcomes. Some diagnoses may be better and more comprehensively addressed with open procedures or combined surgical approaches. The purpose of this article is to provide an unbiased and evidence-based review of conditions of the pre-arthritic hip to define our current understanding of the advantages, disadvantages, and limitations of an arthroscopic approach.