Subspine Hip Impingement: Clinical and Radiographic Results of its Arthroscopic Treatment^[∗]

Abstract

Objective To evaluate the clinical and radiographic results as well as complications related to patients undergoing arthroscopic treatment of subspine hip impingement.

Methods We retrospectively evaluated 25 patients (28 hips) who underwent arthroscopic treatment of subspine impingement between January 2012 and June 2018. The mean follow-up was 29.5 months, and the patients were evaluated clinically by using the Harris hip score modified by Byrd (MHHS), the non-arthritic hip score (NAHS), and in terms of internal rotation and hip flexion. In addition, the following items were evaluated by imaging exams: the center-edge (CE) acetabular angle, the Alpha angle, the presence of a sign of the posterior wall, the degree of arthrosis, the presence of heterotopic hip ossification, and the Hetsroni classification for subspine impingement.

Results There was an average postoperative increase of 26.9 points for the MHHS, 25.4 for the NAHS (p < 0.0001), 10.5° in internal rotation (p < 0.0024), and 7.9° for hip flexion (p < 0.0001). As for the radiographic evaluation, an average reduction of 3.3° in the CE angle and of 31.6° for the Alpha angle (p < 0.0001). Eighteen cases (64.3%) were classified as grade 0 osteoarthritis of Tönnis, and 10 (35.7%) were classified as Tönnis grade 1. Two cases (7.1%) presented grade 1 ossification of Brooker. Most hips (n = 15, 53.6%) were classified as type II of Hetsroni et al.

Conclusion In the present study, patients undergoing arthroscopic treatment with subspine impingement showed improvement in clinical aspects and radiographic patterns measured postoperatively, with an average follow-up of 29.5 months.

 

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Keywords

femoroacetabular impingement - hip joint - arthroscopy

Introduction

Femoroacetabular impingement (FAI) results from changes in contact between the head and femoral neck with the acetabular border.[1] [2] These pathological mechanical changes in the hip can damage the chondrolabral junction and potentially cause early osteoarthritic changes in the hip.[3]

Both arthroscopic treatment and open surgical approaches (through controlled hip dislocation or anterior approach) are widely described in the literature for the treatment of labral injury and restoration of the contour of the neck-head junction, and they result in improved clinical outcomes in patients with symptomatic FAI.[4] Despite the wide application and success of these techniques for the surgical treatment of FAI, a subset of patients does not show significant improvement, suggesting that unrecognized sources of impingement may exist. The extra-articular FAI results from abnormal contact between the extra-articular regions of the proximal femur (major trochanter, minor trochanter, and extracapsular portion of the femoral neck) with the ilium or the ischium.[4] [5]

Recent studies[6] [7] demonstrate that the prominence of the anterior inferior iliac spine (AIIS) could contribute as a cause of FAI. In such cases, terminal flexion of the hip would result in an impact with the caudal region of the AIIS prominence against the femoral neck. Decreased pain and general improvement in hip function have been reported after resection of AIIS prominence.[8]

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the clinical and radiographic results as well as the complications related to patients undergoing arthroscopic treatment of subspine impingement (SSI).

 

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Materials and Methods

Patients undergoing arthroscopic FAI treatment, operated between January 2012 and October 2018, were included. During this period, 275 patients underwent this treatment, all of which were performed by the same surgeon (BDR). The exclusion criteria for the study were patients with FAI without the presence of subspine impingement (240 cases), loss of patient to follow-up, and/or lack of tests for radiographic measurements (10 cases).

All patients were called and reassessed. The authors of the present study signed an agreement to use the data. It should also be noted that the research project was approved by the research ethics committee under the number CAAE 08965619.0.0000.5342.

According to the established criteria, 25 patients met all necessary requirements. Of these, 18 (72%) were male, and the mean age was 32.1 years (standard deviation [SD] = 7.2, range from 19–44 years). The right hip was operated on in 17 cases (60.7%), the left hip in 11 cases (39.3%), and 3 cases were treated bilaterally and simultaneously, totaling 28 hips evaluated. The median follow-up was 29.5 months (range from 6–82 months).

As for the clinical aspects, the patients were evaluated pre- and postoperatively according to the Harris hip score modified by Byrd[9] (MHHS), non-arthritic hip score[10] (NAHS), the degree of internal rotation (IR) and flexion of the affected hip (using a goniometer for measurement). All patients underwent a test to assess positive subspine impingement, which consists of pain in passive flexion of the hip in neutral rotation.[11] According to the MHHS, the results were stratified as poor (MHHS < 70 points), reasonable (MHHS 70–79 points), good (MHHS 80–89 points), and excellent (MHHS 90–100).

All patients were assessed by means of anteroposterior (AP) pelvic radiographs, Dunn 45°,[11] and Lequesne false profile,[12] Computed tomography with 3D Reconstruction (3D CT) and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR). Preoperative radiographs measured the center-edge angle (θCE), the alpha angle (θα) as described by Meyer in the incidence 45°,[11] the presence of the sign of the crossing of the acetabular lines,[13] the presence of the sign of the posterior wall, and the classification of Tönnis[14] for coxarthrosis. In patients with the presence of sign of the crossing of acetabular lines, the degree of acetabular retroversion was measured, being classified as mild when it occurred in the upper third of the acetabulum, moderate in the middle third, and severe in the lower third.[15] In the postoperative radiographs the θCE, the θα, and the presence of heterotopic ossification according to the classification proposed by Brooker et al. were measured.[16]

The subspine impingement was classified preoperatively from 3D CT studies based on AIIS morphology as described by Hetsroni et al.[17] in type I, the distal AIIS extension is located proximal to the acetabular border; in type II, the bony prominence of the ilium extends to the acetabular ridge; in type III, the AIIS extends distally to the acetabular ridge.

The cam-type FAI was defined as θα > 50°.[18] The pincer-type FAI was defined in the presence of θCE greater than or equal to 40° on pelvic AP radiographs and/or Lequesne false profile,[12] or in the presence of the sign of the crossing of the acetabular lines.[13] The presence of an association of crossing signal and posterior wall signal indicated true acetabular retroversion. The isolated presence of the crossing sign indicated relative acetabular retroversion.[15]

To avoid inter and intraobserver errors, measurements were monitored by two surgeons from the Hip Group. In the event of disagreement of more than 3° in the angular measurements, a new evaluation was performed by a third surgeon, and, then, a consensus of the measurement was proceeded. A 15% mean magnification of the hip AP radiography was considered, which was quantified in the equipment of our department.

Quantitative variables of interest did not undergo the normality test. Thus, the statistical test used to analyze the pre and postoperative variables was the Wilcoxon test (non-parametric for dependent samples), with a significance level of 0.05.

 

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Results

Of the 28 hips evaluated, 23 (82.1%) had a subspine impingement associated with cam-type and pincer impacts, 4 (14.3%) a subspine impingement associated with a cam impingement, and 1 (3.6%) hip had an isolated subspine impingement. Most hips (n = 15, 53.6%) were classified as type II of Hetsroni et al.[17] In addition to the resection of the AIIS, other treatments were performed arthroscopically, which are listed in [Table 1].

Table 1

Arthroscopic treatment	Number of cases
Resection of the anterior inferior iliac spine	28 cases
Femoral osteochondroplasty	27 cases
Acetabular osteochondroplasty	23 cases
Labral debridement	16 cases
Labral refixation	6 cases
Release of the iliopsoas tendon	3 cases

Regarding the assessment of the MHHS clinical score,[9] there was a preoperative mean of 62.3 points (SD = 6.2, range from 50–72 points), and a postoperative mean of 89.2 points (SD = 5.7, range from 77–100 points), with an average postoperative increase of 26.9 points. Regarding the NAHS clinical score,[10] there was an average preoperative score of 65.7 points (SD = 8.7, range from 45–80 points), and a postoperative score of 91.1 points (SD = 5.8, range from 80–100 points), with a mean postoperative increase of 25.4 points. The hip IR measurement showed a preoperative mean of 8.9° (SD = 7.6°, range from 0–30°) and postoperative of 19.5° (SD = 5.7, range from 10–30°), with mean postoperative increase of 10.5°. As for hip flexion, there was a preoperative mean of 111.1° (SD = 10.7, range from 90–130°) and postoperative of 118.9° (SD = 6.3, range from 100–130°), with mean postoperative increase of 7.9°. According to the established criteria based on the evaluation of the MHHS clinical score[9] of the 28 hips treated, 16 (57.1%) had good clinical results and 12 (42.9%) excellent. There was a statistical difference (p < 0.005) in the pre and postoperative clinical measurements of the MHHS clinical scores[9] and in the NAHS,[10] in addition to the IR and hip flexion.

Regarding the preoperative radiographic evaluation, the mean for the θCE was 34.7° (22–48°) and 72° (48–86°) for the θα. The sign of crossing of the acetabular lines was found in 23 patients (82.1%), with all cases classified as mild retroversion. The sign of the posterior wall was seen in 15 patients (53.6%). In 15 cases (53.6%), true acetabular retroversion was found, and in 8, relative retroversion (28.6%). Eighteen cases (64.3%) were classified as grade 0 osteoarthritis of Tönnis, and 10 (35.7%) as Tönnis 1.

Concerning the θCE, a mean reduction of 3.3° (22–39°) was observed postoperatively. In the θα, there was a mean reduction of 31.6° (28–52°) ([Table 2]). In the late postoperative period, heterotopic ossification was not observed in 26 cases (92.9%), and 2 cases (7.1%) presented Brooker grade 1 ossification.[16] As complications, we verified a case (0.28%) with a small vaginal skin lesion resulting from traction, with complete improvement in 6 weeks. ([Figures 1] [2] [3] [4] [5])

Table 2

Evaluation		P
MHHS	Preoperative Postoperative	62.3 89.2	p < 0.0001
NAHS	Preoperative Postoperative	65.7 91.1	p < 0.0001
IR	Preoperative Postoperative	8.9° 19.5°	p < 0.0001
Flex	Preoperative Postoperative	111.1° 118.9°	p < 0.0024
θα	Preoperative Postoperative	72.0° 40.3°	p < 0.0001
θCE	Preoperative Postoperative	34.7° 31.4°	p < 0.0001

Fig. 1 Preoperative radiography in anteroposterior view of the hip joint, showing the presence of prominent anterior inferior iliac spine (white arrow) and deformity in the neck-head transition (asterisk). center-edge Angle: 36°.

Fig. 2 Preoperative radiography in DUNN view 45° evidencing the presence of cam-type deformity. Alpha angle: 80°.

Fig. 3 Preoperative image of computed tomography in axial section, showing the presence of prominent anterior inferior iliac spine (white arrow).

Fig. 4 Two-year postoperative radiograph in anteroposterior view of the hip joint, showing the correction of the subspine impingement and of the deformity of the neck-head transition.

Fig. 5 Two-year postoperative radiograph in DUNN 45° view showing the correction of the cam-type deformity. Alpha angle: 38°.

 

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Discussion

Surgical treatment of FAI is recognized in the literature as an effective treatment based on remodeling the proximal femur and acetabulum and treating chondral and labral lesions in order to reduce the impact of the femur against the acetabular ridge and, consequently, improve the range of motion of the hip.[18] [19] However, there is a subgroup of patients with unfavorable outcomes after surgery suggesting that unrecognized causes of impingement may coexist.[20] More recently, a study has been carried out with the purpose of identifying and understanding extra-articular causes of hip impingement.[21] [22] [23]

Subspine impingement is caused by an AIIS prominence causing abnormal contact with the distal femoral neck during hip flexion.[21] The literature shows that this condition is more common in active, young men (aged 14–30 years) and tends to have lower preoperative results for the MHHS.[21] [22] Patients often report pain in the anterior aspect of the hip or groin, aggravated by active hip flexion.

Due to the infrequency of the isolated form of SSI, few studies in the literature show results of its treatment. However, good results have been demonstrated in mixed series studies (SSI associated with intra-articular forms of FAI).[7] [24] [25] Nwachukwu et al.[26] published the results of 33 patients with isolated SSI undergoing arthroscopic treatment, with an average follow-up of 19 months. All patients were female, and most hips had AIIS classified as type II. At the end of the follow-up, a mean increase of 22.3 points was found in the MHHS. Hetsroni et al.[6] performed a retrospective review of 10 symptomatic patients undergoing arthroscopic treatment of SSI and reported significant improvement in range of motion of the hip and of the MHHS.

In our study, we obtained results that agree with those described in the literature. Postoperative clinical improvement was observed in these patients, with improved pain assessment scores, as well as increased hip range of motion (especially internal rotation). There was also an improvement in the radiographic patterns measured. It should be noted, based on radiographic analysis, that a significant portion of the patients (15 cases) presented signs of acetabular crossing (diagnosis of acetabular retroversion), showing changes in the orientation of acetabular walls with increased anterior acetabular coverage.

The limitations of the present study are the small number of patients, the short average follow-up time (29.5 months), and the absence of postoperative CT analysis to confirm the adequacy of AIIS resection.

 

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Conclusion

In the present study, patients undergoing arthroscopic treatment of subspine impingement showed improvement in clinical aspects and in the radiographic patterns measured postoperatively.

 

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Conflito de Interesses

Os autores declaram não haver conflito de interesses.

^∗ Work developed at the Department of Orthopedics and Traumatology of Hospital Ortopédico de Passo Fundo, Passo Fundo, RS, Brazil.

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Publication History

Received: 05 January 2020

Accepted: 15 April 2020

Article published online:
22 September 2020