The role of hip arthroscopy in the diagnosis and treatment of hip disease.
OBJECTIVE
To report the results of arthroscopy performed on adults with hip disease who did not respond to extended conservative treatment and to evaluate the relationship between clinical findings, radiologic tests and surgical abnormalities.


METHODS
A case study.


METHODS
New England Baptist Hospital, Boston, Mass.


METHODS
Fifty-nine patients (32 women, 27 men) with refractory hip pain, between the ages of 17 and 69 years, who were seen between January 1989 and January 1992.


METHODS
Hip arthroscopy.


METHODS
Cause of hip pain, results of physical examination and operative findings.


RESULTS
In 26 patients the cause of hip pain was traumatic; in 21 the cause was idiopathic. On physical had pain on straight leg examination, 56% of patients reported painful clicking of the hip joint, 37% had pain on straight leg raising, 9% had decreased extension and 34% had had episodes of locking of the joint. Five percent had pain predominantly in the thigh, 41% reported at least one episode of "giving way" of the hip and 7% had snapping of the iliotibial band. At arthroscopy, 69% of patients had synovitis in the hip joint, 59% had a tear of the acetabular labrum, 39% had loose bodies, 32% had degenerative arthritis and 27% had a chondral defect. On statistical analysis, significant (p < 0.05) relationships were found between acetabular labral tears and preoperative complaints of clicking or giving way, between loose bodies and preoperative locking and between degeneration of the hip joint and thigh pain.


CONCLUSIONS
Arthroscopy of the hip is a valuable diagnostic and therapeutic procedure for patients with hip pain refractory to conservative therapy.
McCarthy
J C
JC
Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, Mass.
Busconi
B
B
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D018771:Arthralgia / Q000209:etiology; D001182:Arthroscopy; D005260:Female; D025981:Hip Injuries; D006621:Hip Joint / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D006801:Humans; D007592:Joint Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011859:Radiography