Editorial Commentary: Iliopsoas Tenotomy for Pain After Total Hip: A Great Operation IF the Diagnosis Is Right

Iliopsoas tendon pain can be a frustrating condition for both patients and surgeons after total hip arthroplasty. It is difficult to diagnose definitively, as there is no imaging modality that offers reliable information and there are numerous causes of persistent groin pain in this patient population. The pain can ruin the results of an otherwise well-functioning total hip arthroplasty. Patients who respond best to arthroscopic iliopsoas tenotomy are those with isolated pain with hip flexion activities and reproducible pain with resisted hip flexion on examination or other provocative iliopsoas maneuvers. Patients with these symptoms in addition to more generalized pain findings (pain with weight-bearing, pain at night, pain with passive range of motion) tend not to respond as favorably to isolated iliopsoas tenotomy. In addition, optimal treatment for refractory cases has been controversial historically, as both acetabular component revision and iliopsoas tendon lengthening have been advocated. With the ever-increasing popularity of hip arthroscopy and recent clinical outcome reports, arthroscopic (or endoscopic) iliopsoas tenotomy has proven to be a very safe and effective treatment option for these patients, with one caveat: the diagnosis must be correct.     

Recurrent Hematomas Within the Iliopsoas Muscle Caused by Impingement After Total Hip Arthroplasty

Impingement of the iliopsoas muscle after total hip arthroplasty is a potential cause of postoperative groin pain. In addition, hematoma within the iliopsoas sheath has been documented as a cause of groin pain in patients on long-term anticoagulation. We present the case of a patient on long-term anticoagulation presenting after total hip arthroplasty with recurrent, symptomatic iliopsoas sheath hematomas. We believe this was due to iliopsoas impingement caused by a malpositioned acetabular component. His pain was relieved after revision of the acetabular component and debridement of the inflamed psoas tendon.     

Iliopsoas tendinitis after total hip arthroplasty

Determination of the cause of groin pain after total hip arthroplasty can be difficult. The case of a patient with an unusual cause of groin pain after total hip arthroplasty, iliopsoas tendinitis, is presented. The patient failed nonoperative treatment and underwent surgical release of the iliopsoas tendon with complete resolution of symptoms.     

Irritation der Iliopsoassehne nach totalendoprothetischem Hüftgelenkersatz

Chronic irritation of the iliopsoas tendon is a rare cause of persistent pain after total joint replacement of the hip. In the majority of cases, pain results from a mechanical conflict between the iliopsoas tendon and the anterior edge of the acetabular cup after total hip arthroplasty. Pain can be reproduced by active flexion of the hip and by active raising of the straightened leg. In addition, painful leg raising against resistance and passive hyperextension are suggestive of an irritation of the iliopsoas tendon. Symptoms evolve from a mechanical irritation of the iliopsoas tendon and an oversized or retroverted acetabular cup, screws penetrating into the inner aspect of the ilium, or from bone cement protruding beyond the anterior acetabular rim. The diagnosis may be assumed on conventional radiographs and confirmed by CT scans. Fifteen patients with psoas irritation after total hip replacement are reported on. Eleven patients were treated surgically. The acetabular cup was revised and reoriented with more anteversion in six patients, isolated screws penetrating into the tendon were cut and leveled in three patients, and prominent bone cement in conflict with the tendon was resected once. A partial release of the iliopsoas tendon only was performed in another patient. Follow-up examination (range: 11-89 months) revealed that nine patients were free of pain and two patient had mild residual complaints. Psoas irritation in combination with total hip replacement can be prevented by a correct surgical technique, especially with proper selection of the cup size and insertion of the acetabular cup avoiding a rim position exceeding the level of the anterior acetabular rim.     

Retroperitoneal hematoma: an unusual cause of pain after total hip arthroplasty

Pain following total hip arthroplasty due to impingement of the iliopsoas is a recognized complication of the procedure with a reported incidence as high as 4.3%. The pain is most often due to direct mechanical irritation of the iliopsoas due to a malpositioned or oversized acetabular cup. Definitive treatment of iliopsoas impingement often requires surgical revision or iliopsoas tenotomy, although many cases remain undiagnosed or are managed conservatively. We present an unusual case of pain after total hip arthroplasty due to a large retroperitoneal hematoma secondary to acetabular cup irritation of the iliopsoas tendon. This case represents a potentially important complication of undiagnosed or conservatively managed iliopsoas impingement, particularly in patients taking anticoagulants or antiplatelet medications.     

Retroperitoneal Hematoma : An Unusual Cause of Pain After Total Hip Arthroplasty

Pain following total hip arthroplasty due to impingement of the iliopsoas is a recognized complication of the procedure with a reported incidence as high as 4.3%. The pain is most often due to direct mechanical irritation of the iliopsoas due to a malpositioned or oversized acetabular cup. Definitive treatment of iliopsoas impingement often requires surgical revision or iliopsoas tenotomy, although many cases remain undiagnosed or are managed conservatively. We present an unusual case of pain after total hip arthroplasty due to a large retroperitoneal hematoma secondary to acetabular cup irritation of the iliopsoas tendon. This case represents a potentially important complication of undiagnosed or conservatively managed iliopsoas impingement, particularly in patients taking anticoagulants or antiplatelet medications.     

The Prevalence of Groin Pain After Metal-on-Metal Total Hip Arthroplasty and Total Hip Resurfacing

Background  

Groin pain after total hip arthroplasty (THA) or total hip resurfacing arthroplasty can be troubling for patients and surgeons. Potential sources of pain include infection, loosening, metal hypersensitivity, or impingement of bony structures or the iliopsoas tendon.     

Iliopsoas Tendonitis due to the Protrusion of an Acetabular Component Fixation Screw After Total Hip Arthroplasty

Postoperative pain after total hip arthroplasty can have a wide range of underlying causes. Iliopsoas tendonitis secondary to the impingement of this tendon is a relatively rare cause of pain after arthroplasty. This condition is characterized by pain on active flexion and an absence of signs or symptoms of loosening or infection. In this report, we describe the case of a patient who had signs and symptoms of iliopsoas tendonitis secondary to the protrusion of an acetabular fixation screw through the ilium after primary total hip arthroplasty. Nonoperative treatment was ineffective, and the patient ultimately underwent surgical removal of the screw. The severity of the patient's symptoms decreased significantly after the operation.     

Tendon Disorders After Total Hip Arthroplasty: Evaluation and Management

Background

Most patients who undergo total hip arthroplasty are very satisfied with their outcomes. However, there is a small subset of patients who have persistent pain after surgery. The etiology of pain after total hip arthroplasty varies widely; however, tendon disorders are a major cause of debilitating pain that often go unrecognized.

Iliopsoas tendon dysfunction as a cause of pain after total hip arthroplasty relieved by surgical release

Pain after total hip arthroplasty (THA) may be due to a number of factors, including dysfunction of the iliopsoas tendon. We report a case of persistent groin pain after THA. The pain was successfully treated using iliopsoas tenotomy rather than revision of any prosthetic component.     

Risk Factors for Iliopsoas Tendinopathy After Anterior Approach Total Hip Arthroplasty

BackgroundIliopsoas tendinopathy is a cause of groin pain following total hip arthroplasty (THA). With the anterior approach becoming increasingly popular, our aim was to determine the prevalence of iliopsoas tendinopathy following anterior approach THA, to identify risk factors and to determine an influence on patient-reported outcomes.MethodsThis is a retrospective case-control study of prospectively recorded data on 2,120 primary anterior approach THA (1,815 patients). The diagnosis of iliopsoas tendinopathy was based on (1) persistent postoperative groin pain, triggered by hip flexion; (2) absence of dislocation, infection, loosening, or fracture; and (3) decrease of pain after fluoroscopy-guided iliopsoas tendon sheet injection with xylocaine and corticosteroid. Outcomes included hip reconstruction (inclination/anteversion and leg-length), complication rates, reoperation rates, and patient-reported outcomes including Hip disability and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score.ResultsForty four patients (46 THAs) (2.2%) were diagnosed with iliopsoas tendinopathy. They were younger than patients who did not have iliopsoas tendinopathy (51 years [range, 27-76] versus 62 years [range, 20-90]; P < .001). Logistic regression analyses demonstrated that younger age (P < .001) and presence of a spine fusion (P = .008) (odds ratio 4.6) were the significant predictors of iliopsoas tendinopathy. These patients had lower Hip disability and Osteoarthritis Outcome scores, reported more often low back pain (odds ratio 4.8), and greater trochanter pain (odds ratio 5.4).ConclusionWe found an incidence of 2.2% of iliopsoas tendinopathy patients after anterior approach THA that compromised outcomes. Younger age and previous spine fusion were identified as most important risk factors. These patients were 5 times more likely to report low back pain and greater trochanter pain post-THA.     

Impingement of the iliopsoas muscle after revision of a loosened acetabular cup with an acetabular reinforcement ring

Impingement of the iliopsoas muscle due to a protruding acetabular component is an uncommon cause of pain after total hip arthroplasty. We report the case of a 59 year old female patient who developed groin pain one year after revision arthroplasty and reconstruction of the acteabular defect with an acetabular reinforcement ring due to a loosened cup. THERAPY AND FOLLOW UP: After revision of the right hip via an anterior approach we used bone cement to smooth the anterior edge of the acetabular reconstruction ring and created a smooth rim for the iliopsoas tendon. At follow up 2 years later the patient was satisfied with the result, she complained about very rare recurrent groin pain, without any need for further treatment.     

Iliopsoas cyst causing persistent pain after total hip arthroplasty

Persistent pain after total hip arthroplasty (THA) has many potential causes. The most common are aseptic loosening, infection, and heterotopic ossification. Irritation of the iliopsoas tendon due to the acetabular component is an underestimated cause of persistent groin pain and functional disability after THA with rare incidence. Pain specific to iliopsoas tendonitis includes activities such as hyperextension of the hip, forced flexion, and activities of daily living (eg, ascending stairs). This article presents a case of a 50-year old man with clinical and radiological signs of osteoarthritis of the right hip joint. A THA was performed. After a symptom-free interval of several weeks postoperatively, the patient reported pain projecting from the right groin and radiating ventromedially along the leg. Magnetic resonance imaging of the hip showed a fluid-filled cyst in anatomical proximity to the femoral nerve causing an iliopsoas tendonitis. The patient underwent surgical resection of the cyst was performed by an anterior approach; a conjunction to the hip joint was not present. The implanted components of the prosthesis showed good osseointegration with no signs of loosening. The cyst was removed and the iliopsoas tendon was released. A few weeks after the operation, the patient was pain free. At 17-month follow-up, no problems were reported. In cases such as this, finding the correct diagnosis may be difficult and misleading. Conservative and operative therapeutic options are discussed and compared with divergent findings in the literature.     

Evaluation of Endoscopic Iliopsoas Tenotomy for Treatment of Iliopsoas Impingement After Total Hip Arthroplasty

BackgroundIliopsoas impingement after total hip arthroplasty (THA) occurs in up to 4.3% of patients resulting in functional groin pain. Operative treatment historically has included open iliopsoas tenotomy or acetabulum revision. We present a large single surgeon series of patients treated with endoscopic iliopsoas tenotomy for iliopsoas impingement after THA to evaluate the effectiveness and risks.MethodsA consecutive series of 60 patients with iliopsoas impingement after THA treated with endoscopic iliopsoas tenotomy was retrospectively evaluated. Outcomes assessed were resolution of pain, change in Hip Outcome Score (HOS), and complications. Radiographs were reviewed by a musculoskeletal radiologist to evaluate component positioning and to compare with a control cohort.ResultsAt last follow-up (mean 5.5 months), 93.3% of patients had resolution of pain. The HOS activities of daily living (ADL) subscale mean was 57.5 (range 10.9-89.3, standard deviation [SD] 18.8) preoperatively and 71.6 (range 14.1-100, SD 26.1) postoperatively (P = .005). The HOS sports subscale mean was 37.3 (range 0-83.3, SD 24.0) preoperatively and 58.1 (range 0-100, SD 33.2) postoperatively (P = .002). One complication was reported, a postoperative hematoma managed conservatively. Body mass index and increased offset were associated with iliopsoas symptoms after THA in this series.ConclusionEndoscopic iliopsoas tenotomy after THA had a 93.3% resolution of pain, clinically important improvements in HOS, and low rate of complications. Endoscopic tenotomy should be considered as a treatment option in patients with iliopsoas impingement after THA.     

Iliopsoas tendinitis--rare cause of pain following implantation of a total hip endoprosthesis

Pain following implantation of a total hip endoprosthesis is described in the literature with an incidence of 1-17.6%, depending on the type of prosthesis. The underlying causes are numerous; the primary reasons for such pain are septic and nonseptic loosening of the prosthesis, periarticular heterotopic ossifications, or trochanteric bursitis. Less common reasons are muscular hernia, squeezing of the joint capsule, distal nerve lesions, stress fractures, compartment syndromes, or neoplasia.One can find only a few reports about tendinitis of the iliopsoas muscle as a cause for pain following implantation of an endoprosthesis in total hip arthroplasty. We now report about a female patient with therapy-resistant pain after total hip replacement, caused by tendinitis of the iliopsoas muscle. We introduce the transpositioning of this tendon from the lesser trochanter to the proximal anterior femur and bony refixation with a PDS cord as a new operative treatment.     

Failure of larger-diameter metal-on-metal total hip arthroplasty resulting from anterior iliopsoas impingement

Anterior iliopsoas impingement is a recognized cause of persistent groin pain after total hip arthroplasty. We report 3 patients with failed total hip arthroplasties resulting from anterior iliopsoas and capsular impingement secondary to a metal femoral ball with a diameter larger than the native femoral head. All patients had the same implant design. Resolution of symptoms occurred in all patients after revision surgery. To our knowledge, this is the first report of this potential failure mechanism with these large-diameter implant designs and should be considered in the appropriate clinical scenario.     

Use of an anatomical acetabular component for treatment of iliopsoas impingement

Iliopsoas impingement is a known cause of pain after total hip arthroplasty. The author reports on a patient with iliopsoas impingement due to prominence of the anterior aspect of her acetabular hip arthroplasty component successfully treated with revision to an anatomically designed acetabular implant. Use of such an anatomically designed acetabular implant may prove to be beneficial in selected patients with iliopsoas impingement.     

Arthroscopic treatment of iliopsoas impingement (IPI) after total hip replacement

Purpose

The purpose of the study was to present our arthroscopic surgical technique and the results in patient with an iliopsoas impingement (IPI) syndrome after a hip replacement.

Materials and methods

Between 1999 and 2011, 35 patients with the clinical picture of an IPI after total hip replacement were diagnosed and treated arthroscopically. The age was ranged from 58 to 82 years. All patients underwent conservative treatment for at least 6 months without success. The indication for the arthroscopic procedure was the failure of the conservative therapy as well as typical clinical signs as painful hip flexion, a positive local anesthesia test and radiological evidence of the presence of a prominent anterior acetabular component. The arthroscopic treatment was performed in all patients with anterior capsulotomy and partial capsulectomy of the hip joint. After identification of the pathology an arthroscopic release of the iliopsoas tendon in the region of the proved lesion was performed. The average follow-up period was 3.6 years (6 months to 12 years).

Results

In all patients osseous integrated acetabular components were found. In six cases there was a surface replacement, in three cases it was a cementless screw-in cup and in the other three cases it was a cementless modular press-fit cup. 8 out of 12 patients suffered from a hip dysplasia with a secondary osteoarthritis. After establishing an anterior capsular window arthroscopically, the iliopsoas tendon could be visualized in all cases. In addition to multiple local tendinitis all patients already showed mechanical limitation with partial rupture of variable extent in the iliopsoas tendon. During the arthroscopy the lesion was detected at the level of the anterior prominent acetabular component as well as distal to it. 10 out of 12 patients reported immediately after postoperative mobilization that the typical preoperative complaints have disappeared. Two patients still had residual pain. In one of those patients this was relieved by the time of the follow-up examination. Clinically a temporary weakness of hip flexion in the first days of the postoperative period was detected. In the first follow-up 6 weeks later there was no evidence of weakness in any of the patients.

Conclusion and clinical relevance

An arthroscopic release of the iliopsoas tendon with evidence of iliopsoas impingement after total hip replacement gives predictably good results. A clinically relevant weakness of hip flexion is not expected after the procedure.     

Anterior iliopsoas impingement after total hip arthroplasty

Pain after total hip arthroplasty (THA) can be caused by a multitude of conditions, including infection, aseptic loosening, heterotopic ossification, and referred pain. It is also recognized that soft tissue inflammation about the hip, such as trochanteric bursitis, can lead to hip pain after THA. Two cases of persistent iliopsoas tendinitis following THA are reported, which are believed to be caused by psoas tendon impingement against a malpositioned, uncemented, metal-backed acetabular component. The authors are unaware of previous reports of this problem, and suggest that the problem be considered in the differential diagnosis of groin pain following THA.