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Purpose: To examine Medicare reimbursement for hip arthroscopy from 2011 to 2022. Methods: The seven most common procedures performed with hip arthroscopy by a single surgeon were gathered. The Physician Fee Schedule Look-Up Tool was utilized to access financial data of the associated Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) codes. The reimbursement data for each CPT were gathered from the Physician Fee Schedule Look-Up Tool. With the consumer price index database and inflation calculator, reimbursement values were adjusted for inflation to 2022 U.S. dollars. Results: Following an adjustment for inflation, it was found that reimbursement rate for hip arthroscopy procedures on average was 21.1% lower between 2011 and 2022. The average reimbursement per CPT code for the included codes was $899.21 in 2022 compared to inflation adjusted $1,141.45 in 2011, a difference of $242.24. Conclusions: From 2011 to 2022, the average inflation-adjusted Medicare reimbursement has steadily declined for the most common hip arthroscopy procedures. As Medicare is one of the largest insurance payers, these results have substantial financial and clinical implications for orthopaedic surgeons, policy makers, and patients. Level of Evidence: Level IV, economic analysis.

Purpose: To determine the percent maximal outcome improvement willingness thresholds (MOWTs) for the Nonarthritic Hip Score (NAHS) and the visual analog scale (VAS) for pain that were associated with a patient’s willingness to undergo surgery, in retrospect, given the known outcome of their primary hip arthroscopy with concomitant endoscopy for gluteus medius (GM) tear repair. Methods: An anchor question was provided to patients who underwent primary hip arthroscopy for femoroacetabular impingement syndrome with concomitant endoscopic GM tear repair between April 2008 to April 2020. Patients were included if they answered the anchor question and had baseline and postoperative minimum 1-year follow-up scores for the NAHS and VAS. Patients were excluded if they had a previous ipsilateral hip surgery, Tönnis grade >1, hip dysplasia, previous hip conditions, or a preoperative score that was already at the maximum value for the NAHS and VAS scores. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis was used to determine the MOWT. Significance was indicated by a P value

Purpose: To report on clinical presentations and outcomes in patients who underwent an isolated endoscopic gluteus medius (GM) repair. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed and prospectively collected data on patients who underwent a primary isolated endoscopic GM repair. Patients were included if the following patient-reported outcome scores were obtained preoperatively and at minimum 2-year follow-up: modified Harris Hip Score (mHHS), Non-arthritic Hip Score (NAHS), and visual analog scale (VAS) score. The minimal clinically important difference (MCID) for the mHHS, NAHS, and Hip Outcome Score–Sports Specific Scale was uniquely calculated for this study. Patients who underwent concomitant procedures including hip arthroplasty and hip arthroscopy were excluded. Results: A total of 26 hips met all inclusion and exclusion criteria, of which 23 hips (88.5%) (22 patients) had a minimum 2-year follow-up. Nineteen hips had a partial-thickness GM tear; 17 (89.5%) were high-grade partial-thickness tears treated with a side-to-side repair through a transtendinous window. Four full-thickness tears with no retraction or fatty infiltration were able to be repaired endoscopically. The mHHS, NAHS, and VAS score all significantly improved (P < .05) from baseline: The mHHS improved from 55.9 to 75.4 (P = .005); the NAHS, from 58.8 to 79.2 (P = .003); and the VAS score, from 5.9 to 3.6 (P = .009). The MCID was calculated for the mHHS, NAHS, and Hip Outcome Score–Sports Specific Scale as 5.8, 7.1, and 11.0, respectively. Most patients achieved the MCID for all 3 patient-reported outcome scores. Conclusions: Appropriately selected patients without concomitant intra-articular hip pathology may achieve successful outcomes at a minimum 2-year follow-up after an isolated endoscopic GM repair. Most isolated endoscopic GM repairs were performed for partial-thickness GM tears. Level of Evidence: Level IV, case-series study.

Gross hip instability in an active adult with previous normal hip anatomy is usually due to disruption of the static stabilizers of the hip joint. Although such a disruption can result from a high-grade injury, it can be iatrogenic after previous hip arthroscopy. The patient may present with a painful limp and recurrent subluxation sensation in the affected hip joint. Revision hip arthroscopy in this scenario is generally complicated, and it is not uncommon for all the soft-tissue stabilizers to be compromised. The labrum, ligamentum teres (LT), and capsule of the hip joint are often so damaged that reparation is not an option. Reconstruction of the torn LT is an established method to add secondary stability while addressing the labral pathology in the hip joint with microinstability. Concomitant reconstruction of all the static restraints has yet to be described addressing triple instability. This Technical Note presents a stepwise approach, including tips and pearls, for arthroscopic triple reconstruction of the labrum, LT, and capsule. We believe this method is a safe and reproducible way to effectively treat gross hip instability in young patients.

Purpose: To quantify the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic’s impact on public interest in sports medicine and surgery topics. Methods: The Google Trends analysis tool (Google Search Volume Indices [GSVI]) was used to collect search information regarding orthopaedic sports medicine terms (“ACL,” “meniscus,” “rotator cuff”) and sports surgery terms (“ACL surgery,” “meniscus surgery,” “rotator cuff surgery”) from May 2015 to May 2020. A time series analysis was performed for these GSVIs and compared to the timing of the pandemic. Results: Interest in both sports medicine and surgery declined following the COVID-19 outbreak. Following the World Health Organization’s statement on COVID-19’s pandemic status on March 11, 2020, searches for “ACL,” “meniscus” and “rotator cuff” declined by 34.78%, 43.95%, and 31.37%, and search for “ACL surgery,” “meniscus surgery” and “rotator cuff surgery” declined by 42.70%, 51.88%, and 53.32%, respectively. Conclusion: The COVID-19 outbreak correlated with a decline in public interest in sports medicine and sports surgery topics, as measured by Google searches. Clinical relevance: Orthopaedic sports medicine and arthroscopy patient and surgical case volumes were negatively affected by various factors after the onset of the pandemic. One factor associated with the volume decrease is a decline in public interest.

Treatment of hip joint chondral damage is a well-recognized aspect of the arthroscopic management of femoroacetabular impingement syndrome. Hip chondral resurfacing has evolved from microfracture to different forms of cartilage grafting, all with variable long-term outcomes. Recent literature has focused on techniques using different cartilage sources (native and synthetic products) that are available for clinicians to choose from during hip arthroscopy. None of the published reports on cartilage grafts have commented on hip joint capsular management as part of the procedure. This is likely because of the increased difficulty of capsular closure in the dry arthroscopic environment required for graft stabilization. However, potential iatrogenic hip instability induced by an unrepaired interportal capsulotomy can be detrimental to the existing joint architecture and possibly to the cartilage graft. This article presents a step-by-step approach, including tips and pearls, for capsular closure during arthroscopic acetabular chondral resurfacing with BioCartilage (Arthrex, Naples, FL). This method is a safe and reproducible way to close the joint capsule during chondral resurfacing in patients undergoing hip preservation that can potentially enhance the chances of a successful outcome.

Gluteus medius (GM) tears are a well-established source of pain and disability. Considering previous studies, which have reported rates of incidental GM tears in 20% of patients undergoing primary total hip arthroplasty (THA) and a 3-fold greater rate in elderly female patients, additional focus should be placed on identifying treatment options. The direct anterior approach (DAA) for primary THA has gained popularity within the past few years. However, there has been a paucity in the literature on how to address symptomatic and partial GM tears through this approach. The purpose of this Technical Note is to describe a method to repair partial GM tears during primary THA using the DAA.

Intraosseous bioplasty (IOBP), has been previously described for arthroscopic-assisted treatment of subchondral bone cysts in the proximal tibia associated with early stages of knee osteoarthritis (OA). This technique entails combining bone marrow aspirate concentrate or concentrated platelet-rich plasma with demineralized bone matrix as a bone substitute before injecting into a subchondral bone defect under fluoroscopic guidance. The principles of IOBP as a procedure that combines core decompression with biologic bone substitute augmentation can be extended to treat subchondral bone marrow lesions such as acetabular and femoral cysts in degenerative hip OA. Intraosseous bioplasty of the hip, in particular the acetabulum, when done using this technique, is a useful alternative that can be beneficial in treating young patients with early hip arthritis to achieve successful outcomes while delaying more invasive procedures. The Technical Note described here presents a step-by-step approach, including tips and pearls for arthroscopic-assisted IOBP with decompression of the subchondral cyst in the acetabulum followed by bone substitute injection under fluoroscopic guidance. We believe this method is a safe and reproducible way to treat subchondral defects in young patients with signs of early osteoarthritis of the hip joint.

Femoroacetabular impingement describes a pathologic interaction between the bony femoral head/neck junction and acetabulum. Cam-type femoroacetabular impingement results from an aspherical femoral head architecture, which increases early contact along the acetabular surface during hip range of motion. Errant arthroscopic femoroplasty recently has been discussed within the literature to describe a preventable etiology of failed hip arthroscopy, most notably cam over- and under-resection. We present an arthroscopic surgical technique for achieving the perfectly spherical femoroplasty, meant to minimize complications and improve postoperative outcomes.

Management of chondral lesions of the femoral head can be challenging. Previously described approaches include arthroscopic surgery for small lesions and open surgical dislocation for larger lesions. In 2001, Ganz popularized the trochanteric flip osteotomy for surgical dislocation, and this remains the workhorse for treatment of large chondral lesions. However, by using a Smith–Peterson (direct anterior) approach and a femoral head allograft, large lesions may be treated while avoiding both trochanteric osteotomy and donor-site morbidity. We present our technique using a Smith–Peterson approach and osteochondral implantation of fresh femoral head allograft for surgical treatment of a femoral head chondral lesion.

The importance of the labrum in the biomechanics of the hip joint is well documented. Labral tears are the most common pathology in patients undergoing hip arthroscopy and therefore appropriate labral management is vital. Labral preservation has been advocated as a superior alternative to labral excision in terms of clinical outcomes. While reconstruction of the labrum is recommended for irreparable tears, labral augmentation is a viable alternative for labral function restoration under certain indications. This Technical Note will describe a method for arthroscopic hip labral augmentation using an anterior tibialis tendon allograft and the pull-through technique.

Once perceived to be a vestigial structure, the ligamentum teres (LT) is now increasingly understood to be critical to providing stability in the adult hip. Surgical treatment with arthroscopic debridement is usually the procedure of choice to treat LT tears. However, reconstruction is a possible alternative in select cases. The authors of a recent systematic review concluded that LT debridement may provide short-term relief of hip pain in patients with partial-thickness tears in whom conservative management has failed whereas reconstruction may be more beneficial in cases of full-thickness tears. This Technical Note describes a method for arthroscopic LT reconstruction using the tension-slide technique to fixate an anterior tibialis tendon allograft to the acetabulum.

Despite all the advances in hip arthroscopy, microfracture is still the workhorse for treating focal and full-thickness cartilage lesions. The success of this treatment is owed to its reliability and simplicity. Given the structure of the hip joint, however, there are challenges to this procedure using a conventional microfracture pick. This note presents our current and preferred microfracture technique using a curve drill guide and flexible drill. This method offers greater range of access to different regions of the joint with ease, thus ensuring a reproducible and quicker procedure with less risk.

Over the past decade, understanding of disorders compromising greater trochanteric pain syndrome (GTPS) has increased dramatically. Nonsurgical treatment options include physical rehabilitation and activity modification, anti-inflammatory as well as biologic injections into the peritrochanteric compartment, and administration of oral analgesics. Multiple open and endoscopic treatment options exist when nonsurgical management is unsuccessful in patients with refractory lateral-sided hip pain, with or without weakness. No true consensus exists within the literature regarding operative techniques of GTPS or postoperative rehabilitation protocols. We present an endoscopic classification system of GTPS with 5 distinct types, which seems to correlate well with preoperative diagnoses and postoperative rehabilitation protocols. The classification system is intuitive, and the corresponding surgical techniques are reproducible for surgeons treating peritrochanteric pathology. Level of Evidence: I (hip); II (extra-articular, impingement).

Different techniques have been described to close or plicate the capsule. To perform these procedures, however, the capsule must be preserved, a consideration unfortunately often overlooked. This Technical Note describes in a stepwise manner the initial capsular management necessary to preserve the capsule for further procedures such as closure or plication. Level of Evidence: I (hip), II (impingement, labrum, other).

Most surgeons rely on the greater trochanter as the reference point to establish the anterolateral portal. Nevertheless, we believe that the anterosuperior iliac spine is a more reliable landmark. Unlike the greater trochanter, it is unaffected by leg rotation and is more easily identified by palpation. Abiding by the central tenet of medicine to “do no harm,” the technique described herein presents in detail the concept of the 12 o’clock portal placement, a hip joint access method based on identifying specific anatomic points under fluoroscopy and by palpation. To accomplish this goal, this Technical Note presents a step-by-step approach, including tips and pearls for patient positioning and fluoroscopic guidance. We believe this method ensures a reproducible and safe way to start hip arthroscopy in the supine position.

Greater trochanteric pain syndrome (GTPS) has received increasing attention in recent years. Most patients with GTPS present with trochanteric bursitis and respond to nonoperative treatment. However, a subset of patients may have persistent lateral hip pain or recalcitrant GTPS resulting from an undiagnosed gluteal tendon tear. Recalcitrant GTPS may be a debilitating condition in this patient subset. There is a need for an accurate and evidence-based physical examination maneuver to aid in earlier diagnosis of gluteal tendon tears and timely intervention in these patients. Most studies evaluating gluteal tendinopathy fail to assess surgical indications and instead focus on identifying trochanteric bursitis, which may or may not require surgical treatment. The modified resisted internal rotation test has been used in our practice to detect gluteus medius tendon tears in the recalcitrant GTPS patient population. Fundamental anatomic, biomechanical, electromyographic, and clinical data have been reviewed to make this an evidence-based clinical test for early detection of this pathology.

In the setting of true hip dysplasia, the high prevalence of intra-articular pathology may lead to recurrent symptoms and failure after periacetabular osteotomy (PAO). Femoral neck osteochondroplasty, microfracture, removal of loose bodies, and labral repair are examples of procedures that are performed with concomitant arthroscopy. When damage to the labrum is too severe to repair, reconstruction instead of extensive debridement before PAO can be more effective in restoring the labral seal to maintain joint lubrication and chondral protection. This Technical Note describes a method for concomitant hip arthroscopy with circumferential labral reconstruction with allograft and PAO.

Hip dysplasia has been identified as one of the leading causes of osteoarthritis. However, hip arthroscopy alone, in the setting of hip dysplasia, remains controversial. In borderline hip dysplasia, with lateral center-edge angle (LCEA) between 18° and 25°, good outcomes have been reported with appropriate capsular and labral management. However, in severe hip dysplasia, with LCEA below 18°, there is an acetabular bony structural deficiency that must be addressed. Even with the potential benefit of hip arthroscopy in addressing intra-articular injuries related to the instability, it cannot be used for soft-tissue procedures. Periacetabular osteotomy remains the gold standard to address that matter; however, its invasive nature along with the long recovery time leaves some patients unwilling to undergo this procedure. New minimally invasive endoscopic procedures, derived from open techniques, describe acetabular autologous bone grafting as an alternative. Donor-side morbidity is always a concern when using autografts; we believe that the use of bone allograft will decrease this potential issue and make the procedure itself less invasive. This Technical Note will describe a type of endoscopic shelf acetabuloplasty using an allograft iliac bone graft.

Treatment options for the management of osteochondritis dissecans (OCD) lesions of the femoral head are limited. Although arthroscopic surgery of the hip can treat a variety of intra- and extra-articular pathologies, an OCD lesion located at the superior and medial zone of the femoral head is often difficult to access and cannot be adequately treated arthroscopically. The use of fresh-stored osteochondral allograft allows surgeons to both avoid donor-site morbidity and treat lesions of a larger surface area. We present our technique for surgical treatment of a femoral head OCD lesion with open surgical dislocation of the hip through stepped trochanteric osteotomy and osteochondral transplantation of fresh-stored femoral head allograft.