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Background: To describe the experience in the diagnostic process and treatment of patients with groin pain (GP) of neurological origin due to entrapment of the iliohypogastric (IH), ilioinguinal (IL) and genitofemoral (GF) nerves in a hip preservation clinic., Methods: Retrospective study of patients with GP of neurological origin confirmed with ultrasound-guided nerve block. Clinical outcomes were reported in 21 cases (age, 53.3 ± 15.9 years) treated with conservative treatment from January to December 2019, and in 9 patients (age 43.7 ± 14.6 years) who underwent neurectomy from January 2015 to December 2019. Pain intensity was assessed with a numerical rating scale (NRS) before starting the diagnostic process (Day 0) and at the end of follow-up., Results: All cases reported pain on groin palpation. Half of these cases also reported a positive FADIR test (flexion, adduction, internal rotation) (15/30). On day 0, the intensity of pain in cases treated with conservative treatment was severe in 19 patients (NRS 7-10) and moderate in 2 (NRS 4-6), with a median improvement of 7 points (interquartile range [IQR] 5.5-8.0) at the end of follow-up ( p   <  0.001). In neurectomy group, a similar improvement in pain severity was (Day 0: 9 points [IQR 8.0-9.0]; end of follow-up: 0 points [IQR: 0-2.0]; p   =  0.002). At the end of the study, 17/21 patients with conservative treatment and 7/9 with neurectomy were pain free or with mild pain (NRS < 3)., Conclusions: In cases with PG of neurological origin, there is a high frequency of false positives in the FADIR test. Our findings suggest that neurectomy is a treatment option for patients in whom conservative treatment fails, providing significant pain relief.

Introduction: Hip arthroscopy is not always successful, leading to high rates of total hip arthroplasty (THA) after arthroscopy. The aim of this study was to identify risk factors for THA, revision arthroscopy and low patient satisfaction and to compare outcomes of the different procedures of primary hip arthroscopy., Methods: A total of 91 primary hip arthroscopy procedures in 90 patients (66% female) were analysed. Data were gathered from patient files and a questionnaire was sent to patients including the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC), modified Harris Hip Score (mHHS), the EuroQol 5-dimension and questions about return to sports, satisfaction and pain before and after surgery. Using regression analyses, predictive factors for the outcomes were identified., Results: After a mean of 1.6 years, 4 patients (4%) underwent revision arthroscopy and 10 (11%) a THA. Of the responders (62%), 66% of the patients was satisfied to very satisfied about the surgery. Mean mHHS score was 75.3 (SE 1.9) and the mean WOMAC score was 81.0 (SE 2.8). Return to sports rate was 58%. A higher age was a significant predictor for lower satisfaction ( p  = 0.008) and a longer duration of symptoms was a significant predictor for worse mHHS outcome scores ( p  = 0.005)., Conclusion: A higher age is a predictor for a lower satisfaction and a longer duration of symptoms before surgery has a negative influence on functional outcome. No risk factors for THA or revision arthroscopy were found and there were no significant differences in outcome measurements between the performed surgeries.

Introduction: Acetabular retroversion syndrome is associated with pincer-type femoroacetabular impingement (FAI) and results, theoretically, from an externally rotated hemipelvis. The purpose of this study was to examine our surgical experience and the clinical results of functional acetabular retroversion syndrome treated with minimally-invasive periacetabular osteotomy (PAO)., Methods: We performed a retrospective cohort study of prospectively collected data in consecutive patients who had an anteverting PAO from 01 November 2010 to 31 December 2015. All patients were followed up clinically and radiologically.Functional scores were ascertained using pre- and postoperative iHOT-12 and EQ-5D. The effect of hypermobility, smoking status and body mass index (BMI) on outcome measures was evaluated., Results: 31 anteverting PAOs were performed on 27 consecutive patients. All patients were female. The mean age was 26.7 years (SD 6.7). The mean BMI was 25.8 kg/m 2 (SD 5.1). 5 patients were smokers (16.1%) and 11 exhibited signs of generalised joint laxity. 23 hips had undergone prior hip arthroscopy and 1 patient had previous open FAI surgery. The minimum clinical follow-up was 2 years (mean 3.4 years; range 2-7 years). A crossover sign was present in all cases. The mean iHOT-12 score improved from 19.5 to 51 at 6 months, 64.5 at 1 year and 48 at 2 years following surgery ( p < 0.05) EQ-5D improved from 0.42 preoperatively to 0.76 at 6 months and 0.69 at 1 year following surgery ( p < 0.05)., Conclusions: We have characterised functional acetabular retroversion syndrome (FARS) as a condition affecting young, active females which severe symptoms out of proportion to demonstrable radiographic pathology.

Purpose: To conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis comparing the surgical techniques, clinical outcomes, rates of revision and conversion to arthroplasty and complications between a repaired and unrepaired capsulotomy after hip arthroscopy., Methods: A search of the PubMed, Embase and Google Scholar databases was performed to identify comparative articles published prior to 10 July 2019 that reported the capsule management strategy and clinical outcomes after hip arthroscopy. A narrative analysis and meta-analysis were performed to integrate and compare the results of the 2 groups., Results: 12 comparative studies ( n  = 1185 hips) with an average (methodological index for non-randomized studies) MINORS score of 17.45 ± 2.02 were identified for analysis, of which 5 were included in the meta-analysis. The pre- to postoperative improvements in the modified Harris Hip Score (mHHS), Hip Outcome Score-Sport-Specific Subscale (HOS-SS), and Hip Outcome Score-Activities of Daily Living (HOS-ADL) revealed no significant differences between the repaired and unrepaired groups ( p  = 0.40, 0.26 and 0.61, respectively). The risk ratio of the revision rate for the 2 groups was 0.66 ( p  = 0.21). Evaluation of the MRI scans and the rate of heterotopic ossification also showed no significant differences. The most preferred capsulotomy techniques were interportal and T-shape. No postoperative hip instability was reported in any of the 12 studies., Conclusion: The currently published evidence is still not strong enough to confirm the superiority of repairing the capsule after hip arthroscopy; hence, routine repair of the capsule during surgery cannot be suggested.

Background: This paper presents a parametric investigation into the effect of femoroacetabular impingement (FAI) and developmental dysplasia of the hip (DDH) on the sphericity of the femoral supra-equatorial region and acetabulum., Methods: Radiographic parameters from x-rays, sphericity calculations and visualisation and joint contact area and pressure from FE models of 10 DDH, FAI and normal hips were analysed and compared both within and between hip groups., Results: The sphericity of the acetabulum and femoral head of both the DDH and FAI groups was found to be less than that for normal hips but the variation in sphericity was greater (range 2.4% for normal hips, compared to 3.3% and 3.1% for the FAI and DDH groups respectively). For the DDH group, femoral head sphericity was found to correlate strongly with 2 of the radiographic parameters used to diagnose the condition, CE angle and Sharp angle. For FAI and DDH hips peak contact pressure primarily occurred in Ilizaliturri Zone 2 (anterior-superior region) in the acetabulum and femoral head which corresponded with increased aspherity in this region compared to the normal hip group. These findings correlate with loading and damage patterns reported in the literature. Additionally, our analysis identified a protrusion of bone in Ilizaliturri Zones 1 and 6 (anterior-inferior region) of the acetabulum of a subgroup of FAI hips, whose existence was confirmed using a full-scale hip model fabricated using a 3D printer, which we believe could result in cartilage damage., Conclusion: We postulate that such protrusions could potentially explain residual symptoms and unaddressed structural deformity in patients who have undergone FAI surgery.

Aim: To examine the pathogenesis and clinical presentation of sports-related femoroacetabular impingement (SRFAI) in a large consecutive series of symptomatic athletes., Methods: Between January 2009 and February 2017 prospectively collected data from competitive athletes within the Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA), and who subsequently underwent arthroscopic treatment for symptomatic FAI, were analysed. Data was collected using internationally validated health questionnaires (Harris Hip Score, UCLA, SF-36, WOMAC) and recognised clinical (ROM, symptom presentation, provocation tests) and radiological (AP pelvis, Dunn, False profile) indicators/measures of FAI., Results: A total of 1021 consecutive cases (mean 26.6 ± 6.2 years) were included. In every case, conservative treatment failed to resolve symptoms with athletes attending an average of 2.4 ± 1.1 health care professionals prior to referral. Symptoms developed gradually (78%) and consisted primarily of groin pain (76.1%) and hip stiffness (76.5%) following activity. An acetabular rim deformity (pincer) was present in all cases; a cam deformity in 72.1%. The prevalence and degree of cam deformity increased with progressing age groups ( p < 0.001); mean lateral centre-edge angle remained static ( p = 0.456). Increasing CEA, alpha angle and presence of rim fracture was associated with a reduction in all ranges of hip movement ( p < 0.001)., Conclusion: Symptomatic SRFAI presented in this large series of GAA athletes failed to resolve with non-operative treatment. Increasing hip deformity resulted in poorer ROM. Abnormal acetabular morphology remains static with increasing athletic age while cam deformity is progressive and most likely a secondary pathology.

Introduction: Posterior hip impingement is a recently-identified cause of hip pain. The purpose of this study is to characterise posterior femoroacetabular and ischiofemoral impingement and identify its predisposing morphologic traits., Methods: Two hundred and six cadaveric hips were randomly selected and taken through controlled motion in two pure axes associated with posterior hip impingement: external rotation (through the mechanical axis) and adduction (coronal plane). The range of motion and location of impingement was noted for each specimen. Morphologic traits including femoral/acetabular version, and true neck-shaft angle (TNSA) were also measured., Results: External rotation impingement occurred between the femoral neck and acetabulum in 83.0% of hips, and between the lesser trochanter and ischial tuberosity in 17.0%. Adduction impingement occurred between the lesser trochanter and ischial tuberosity in 78.6% of hips, and between the femoral neck and acetabulum in 21.4%. Multiple regression revealed that increased femoral/acetabular version predicted earlier external rotation and adduction impingement. Unstandardised betas ranging from -0.39 to -0.64 reflect that each degree of increased femoral/acetabular version individually accounts for a loss of external rotation or adduction of approximately half a degree before impingement ( p < 0.001 for each). Increased TNSA was associated with earlier adduction impingement only (unstandardised beta -0.35, p = 0.005)., Discussion: Relative femoral/acetabular anteversion was associated with earlier posterior hip impingement. Coxa valga was associated with earlier adduction impingement, but protective against external rotation impingement. These findings highlight the importance of monitoring correction during femoral/acetabular osteotomies, as overcorrection of retroversion may predispose to earlier posterior impingement.

Introduction: The purposes of this study were to describe: (i) short-term disease-specific patient-reported outcome scores (PROMs); and (ii) factors associated with reoperation or treatment failure in patients undergoing open hip preservation surgery for symptomatic extraarticular FAI., Methods: Patients undergoing open hip preservation surgery for symptomatic extraarticular FAI were identified from a prospective, single-centre hip preservation registry (n = 51 patients; median clinical follow-up 24 [range 11-49] months). Hip-specific PROMs were assessed preoperatively, 6 months, and each year subsequently. Patients undergoing reoperation or treatment failure (<10 point improvement in iHOT-33 postoperatively) over the study period were identified. Preoperative associated factors were explored on a univariate basis., Results: International Hip Outcome Tool-33 (iHOT-33) improved from 33 (standard deviation [SD] 18) to 62 (26) at most recent follow-up and 76% of patients improved by minimum clinically important difference (MCID). Harris Hip Score improved from 53 (15) to 75 (17) at most recent follow-up and 79% of patients improved by MCID. Hip Outcome Score (HOS) Sport improved from 45 (26) to 66 (28) at most recent follow-up and 60% of patients improved by MCID. Continued improvements in mean follow-up scores were seen from 1 year to 2 years. Overall, 7 patients underwent reoperation and 9 patients failed to improve by MCID. Preoperative HOS Sport was higher in patients experiencing reoperation or treatment failure (58 [SD 19] vs. 40 [SD 27] respectively; p = 0.03). No other associated demographic, physical examination, or radiographic factors were found., Conclusions: Open treatment of extraarticular FAI results in short-term improvements in hip-specific PROMs in most patients. Higher HOS Sport scores were associated with reoperation or treatment failure. Longer-term follow-up is necessary to define maximum improvements in this challenging patient population.

Recent years have witnessed a growing number of people practising sports both at professional and amateur level. This trend led to a progressive rise in the incidence and prevalence of acute and chronic hip damage. The treatment of hip disease in subjects practising sports is a major challenge for the orthopaedic surgeon. The evaluation of patients, in particular those of young age with high functional demands, is inevitably complex and should be performed with a multidisciplinary approach; from a surgical point of view, it is essential to carefully assess whether the indication is towards conservative surgery or hip replacement surgery. The advent of arthroscopic surgery in recent years has allowed us to improve our knowledge of hip joint diseases, such as femoroacetabular impingement that is typical of sports and overuse activity. A correct and early diagnosis of the disease can direct the patient promptly to a conservative surgical treatment that could reduce the progression of degenerative pathology. However, when the joint is permanently damaged, the only reliable solution remains prosthetic surgery, leading to a series of issues that the orthopaedic surgeon should be able to master, leading to a thoughtful decision on, for example, which implant to use, which biomaterials, which surgical approach or which sport to practise after surgery. This supplement contains selected contributions stemming from the work performed by internationally recognised experts in the field and presented during the 1st European Hip Sport Meeting held in Bologna on May 19th, 20th, 2016 that we had the honour to co-chair. We hope that these contributions will help the orthopaedic surgeon, the sports physician and physiotherapist in their day-to-day practice, and will help in fulfilling our ultimate aim to improve the knowledge of the hip pathology related to sports and overuse activities.

Background: Instability is a common cause of revision hip arthroplasty and is frequently due to improper component placement and subsequent component impingement. Impingement of the greater trochanter upon the anterior inferior iliac spine (AIIS) has been described as a cause of symptomatic femoroacetabular impingement (FAI), but has never been described as a cause of instability following total hip arthroplasty (THA)., Case Review: We present 2 cases of patients undergoing THA. Each patient was evaluated preoperatively and found to have a prominent AIIS, which was concerning due to it overhanging the anterolateral acetabular lip. Both patients had intraoperative posterior instability of their THA, the cause of which was determined to be impingement of the greater trochanter upon a prominent AIIS. Open resection of the AIIS was performed with subsequent resolution of impingement., Literature Review: AIIS impingement has been reported as a cause of symptomatic FAI. In these case reports, open or arthroscopic resection of the AIIS resulted in resolution of symptoms. Morphologically distinct subtypes of the AIIS have been previously described based upon computed tomography, and some subtypes are associated with a high risk of impingement in the native hip. No previous studies have described this phenomenon in the setting of THA., Clinical Relevance: Instability is a common cause of revision THA. Impingement of the greater trochanter upon a prominent AIIS is a previously unreported cause of THA instability which can be addressed with intraoperative resection of the AIIS with good result.

Objective: The main purpose of the present study was to determine the prevalence of FAI among patients who underwent total hip arthroplasty (THA) with the diagnosis of end-stage osteoarthritis (OA) of the hip joint in a tertiary referral centre., Design: A retrospective search of the institutional archive database for patients who had undergone THA between the years 2005 and 2010 was conducted with the analysis of the recorded radiographic images. A total of 1,004 patients including 690 (68.7%) females and 314 (31.3%) males were identified. All radiographs were reviewed by 3 of the authors. Intra- and interobserver consistencies were calculated. The prevalence of femeroacetabular impingement (FAI) as a predisposing diagnosis resulting in end-stage degenerative joint disease treated with THA was determined., Results: The most common diagnosis was developmental dysplasia of the hip (DDH). The predisposing aetiologic factor leading to end-stage degenerative hip disease treated with THA was undetermined for 26 patients (2.6%). The number of patients who were diagnosed as cam-type FAI by all of the observers was 83, whereas it was 16 for pincer-type FAI. Interobserver agreement was very high in the evaluation of the stated ethiologies of hip osteoarthritis. The contingency coefficient for the diagnosis of FAI was 0.71 between observers., Conclusions: Our study may be a reference for further investigations to develop a better understanding of the underlying pathological factors in patients undergoing THA due to end-stage OA of the hip joint.

Aims: The aim of this study was to establish preoperative factors associated with a good outcome in the surgical treatment of femoroacetabular impingement., Methods: A prospective study including 253 consecutive patients (280 hips) was carried out. We defined a "good" score as one which had either a 20 point improvement from preoperative to 12 months postoperative follow-up, or a score of over 80 points at 12-month follow-up in either the Non Arthritic Hip Score (NAHS) or Modified Harris Hip Score (MHHS). We analysed 9 potential predictors of 12-month postoperative outcome: patient age, gender, BMI, surgery type (primary/revision), preoperative anxiety level, preoperative labro-chondral damage, operative side, patients belonging to the armed forces and patients being treated under the workers compensation scheme. We used logistic regression (multivariable, adjusted) and, Fisher's exact test and student t test (bivariate, unadjusted) to analyse the data., Results: A strong association between workers' compensation status and not achieving a good outcome following arthroscopic surgery for femoroacetabular impingement (odds ratio 3.84, 95% CI, 0.13-0.51, P&lt;0.0001) was found. A negative effect on postoperative outcome was also observed with increased BMI, although this association was modest (odds ratio 1.06, 95% CI, 0.87-0.99 p = 0.03). Patients with a higher preoperative score did better at 12 months than the rest of the cohort., Conclusions: The data from this study may be useful for both patient and physician to consider when deciding on a suitable treatment in potential surgical candidates suffering from femoroacetabular impingement.

Background: We sought to identify, which patient and radiographic factors at preoperative and 1-year follow up will predict patient symptom relief at mid-term., Materials and Methods: A total of 50 hips in 47 patients with symptomatic FAI were included in this retrospective study. We stratified the hips into "success" and "failure" groups based on the change from baseline to mid-term follow up WOMAC pain score (mean follow up of 5.8 years). An attempt was made to identify factors that are predictive of mid-term outcome among preoperative radiographic measures, dGEMRIC index, range of motion and WOMAC score as well as 1-year follow-up range of motion, radiographic measures, and WOMAC pain scores., Results: At 1-year follow up, the success rate was 72% (36/50) and at mid-term follow the success rate increased to 82% (41/50). There were no significant associations between mid-term pain scores and baseline factors (all p-values ≥0.10). One-year pain score and hip internal rotation was associated with poor mid-term pain scores but only the 1-year pain score was associated with the mid-term success/failure outcome., Conclusions: We did not identify clear preoperative predictors of mid-term results but patients with poor pain scores and limited hip internal rotation at 1-year follow-up are less likely to do well at mid-term.

Purpose: To evaluate the clinical outcomes of an arthroscopic treatment of femoroacetabular impingement at a minimum of a five-year follow-up., Methods: A case series with 24 subjects (26 hips) was conducted. Subjects that were submitted to an arthroscopic procedure for the treatment of femoroacetabular impingement, at a minimum of five years, were evaluated. Subjects completed the modified Harris Hip Score (mHHS), the pain numeric rating scale and a general questionnaire accessing sports practice and satisfaction., Results: Twenty-one of the 24 subjects (87.5%) were male and the average age at the time of surgery was 34.6 ± 9.5 years old (range 13-51). Of the 27 subjects submitted to hip arthroscopy, three (11.1%) could not be contacted. Follow-up was 6.1 ± 0.8 years, and at this time the average mHHS was 90.6 ± 11.6. Pain numeric rating scale was 2.6 ± 1.9 and 11 hips (42.3%) reported no pain. Of the 14 subjects that complained of hip pain during sports activities prior to surgery, 10 (71.4%) returned to normal sports activities while four (28.6%) subjects could not return to preoperative activities. Three patients had to be submitted to a new surgical procedure. All 24 subjects were satisfied with their procedure and would repeat it if necessary., Conclusions: Arthroscopic treatment of femoroacetabular impingement, at five years follow-up, revealed good results in terms of improved function, pain relief and satisfaction.

The aim of the study was to examine whether patients undergoing total hip arthroplasty (THA) are better able to accept a given level of pain and disability than patients undergoing surgery for femoro-acetabular impingement (FAI). Before surgery, 417 THA and 162 FAI patients completed the Oxford Hip Score (OHS). At 12-months follow-up (FU), they were requested to complete the OHS again, rate the global treatment outcome, and state whether their symptom state was acceptable. Preoperatively, THA had worse (p<0.001) OHS scores than FAI. At 12 months, 99% THA and 86% FAI patients reported various degrees of improvement. The proportions of patients perceiving notable improvement and considering their current state acceptable were higher (p<0.0001) in THA (95-99%) than FAI (66-70%) and THA had greater (p<0.0001) improvements in OHS scores than FAI. The mean OHS score of the patients perceiving notable improvements at follow-up did not differ (p>0.05) between THA and FAI groups. Higher "success rates" in THA than FAI are not due to a better acceptance of pain and disability, because the OHS of patients considering their current state to be acceptable was similar for both groups. The difference is simply the result of more THA than FAI patients actually achieving an acceptable status after surgery.

Recognition of the magnitude and location of mechanical conflicts is critical to reliably and reproducibly improve functional range of motion and outcomes after surgical treatment of femoroacetabular impingement (FAI). The purpose of this study was to assess the ROM and location of intra-articular and extra-articular mechanical conflict with seven commonly performed physical exam manoeuvers in a cohort of hips with symptomatic FAI. Internal rotation in flexion results in mechanical contact between the anterolateral and anterior femoral head-neck junction with the acetabulum, most commonly at a 1:15 o'clock position. Associated adduction, however, significantly reduces the available internal rotation secondary to contact in the same locations. Straight abduction results in mechanical conflict between the superior femoral head-neck junction and the 12:00 o'clock position of the acetabulum. With external rotation of the hip in various degrees of hip flexion, the potential mechanical impingement is extra-articular between the greater trochanter and ischium or pubic ramus. The zones of proximal femoral and acetabular contact are not intuitive, and may extend significantly more laterally and distally on the femoral head-neck junction than previously appreciated.

Background: Ischiofemoral impingement is a recently identified cause of chronic hip pain, the pathophysiology and clinical features of which are poorly understood.
, Aim: To determine the clinical significance of MRI findings of ischiofemoral impingement.
, Materials and Methods: Retrospective search for cases of ischiofemoral impingement in the Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre, Oxford, over a 4 year period, and review of medical notes to identify correlation between clinical and MRI features.
, Results: Sixteen hips in 13 patients with MRI signs of ischiofemoral impingement were identified. All patients were females with a median age of 36 years (range 17-80 years). In six patients the symptoms corresponded to the side of the quadratus femoris abnormality and narrowed ischiofemoral distance. In two patients the symptoms were on the same side as the abnormality but were more consistent with back pain and sciatica. In five patients the symptoms were not anatomically related to the abnormality. Abnormalities identified; seven patients had muscle oedema (six unilateral, one bilateral) and six had muscle wasting (four unilateral, two bilateral). Of the patients with quadratus femoris oedema, two had gluteus medius enthesopathy and one had hamstring enthesopathy. Two patients presented with a chronic loud clunking of the hip on walking.
, Conclusions: Ischiofemoral impingement on MRI is seen in patients with pain localised to the ipsilateral buttock and in patients with symptoms unrelated to the abnormality. The condition may be associated with wasting or oedema of the quadratus femoris muscle on MRI and may occur secondary to injury in other muscles controlling movement of the hip such as the hamstrings and gluteus medius. Ischiofemoral impingement is a cause of a clunking hip.

Morphology variants of the hip such as coxa recta (aspherical femoral head and/or reduced head-neck concavity) or coxa profunda (overcoverage, or "deep" socket) are associated with cam and pincer impingement respectively, and may ultimately lead to coxarthrosis. Several population studies have documented the prevalence of hip morphotypes, but few studies have examined this prevalence in total hip arthroplasty (THA) patients, or persons without hip symptoms or signs.
We reviewed whether coxa recta and profunda morphotypes were more prevalent in THA patients compared to normal controls. Further, we explored differences in hip abductor mechanism related to hip morphology.
We examined 113 THA patients and 83 normal controls with anteroposterior pelvic and lateral hip 
radiographs. Coxa recta and profunda were classified with alpha and lateral CE-angle, respectively. The abductor ratio (AR) was measured on AP pelvic radiographs.
Both coxa recta and profunda were more prevalent in THA patients than normal controls (coxa recta: male 42% vs 8%, female 15% vs 5%, respectively and coxa profunda: male 20% vs 1%, female 19% vs 6% respectively). AR was higher in females than males, both in THA patients (1.66 vs 1.47) and normal controls (1.68 vs 1.57). Coxa profunda was associated with a lower AR (1.54 vs 1.61).
The higher prevalence of coxa recta and profunda in arthroplasty patients supports the theory of a role of these morphotypes in the development of coxarthrosis. The higher AR in females signifies the need for increased abductor work. Coxa profunda may be an adaptation to lower the AR.

We studied 100 hip joints in Indian patients to measure femoral head sphericity, head-neck offset and alpha angle. Our study indicates that the mean values of the above measurements are far below the "danger" level for the onset of femoro-acetabular impingement. It remains to be seen whether these findings explain the low incidence of primary hip osteoarthritis in the Indian population.

This prospective study on symptomatic adult patients with femoroacetabular impingement (FAI) who underwent open surgical intervention for management was designed to identify any obvious histological differences in the damaged acetabular cartilage within different subgroups of FAI. 20 patients underwent surgical intervention following safe surgical dislocation of the hip. There were 6 cases of cam impingement, 5 cases of pincer impingement and 9 of the mixed type. Pincer impingement cases demonstrated a characteristic focal, well-circumscribed and localized area of severe damage. On the other hand, cases with cam impingement showed a diffuse area of involvement affecting a larger surface of the acetabular cartilage, with degenerative changes, superficial erosions and some discontinuities. A small biopsy specimen of the acetabular rim including bone, cartilage and labrum from the affected zone was obtained in all cases. Histological evaluation was performed under normal and polarized light microscopy. Histological findings helped corroborate the pre-operative diagnosis and also define the unique nature of impingement and specific damage according to the type of impingement.

We describe our modified anterior mini-invasive technique and results obtained in our first consecutive 117 cases in 105 patients. To assess the influence of preoperative Tönnis degenerative stage, cases were divided into group A (Tönnis 0, 32 hips), B (Tönnis 1, 61 hips), and C (Tönnis 2, 24 hips). The clinical score Dexeus combined score (DCS) was used preoperatively, 3 months, 6 months, and every year after operation. At 3-month follow-up, impingement test results improved significantly in 30 hips of group A (94%; p<0.001) and in 58 of group B (95%; p<0.001), whereas in group C, improvement was observed in only 14 cases (58%; p>0.05). No statistical difference was observed at 3-year visit in all groups. Merle d'Aubigné-Postel and WOMAC scores improved significantly in group A (p<0.001) and B (p<0.001) after 1 year and remained unchanged at subsequent yearly follow-ups. For group C, clinical outcomes scores did not show any significant improvement overall (p>0.05). We concluded that anterior mini-invasive technique is an effective method to treat femoroacetabular impingement, and results are highly influenced by preoperative degenerative state, especially in stage Tönnis 2. Therefore, it seems to be a reasonable early surgical treatment in symptomatic patients.