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 Table of Contents  
CASE REPORT
Year : 2023  |  Volume : 43  |  Issue : 1  |  Page : 43-46

Refixation of labrum in pincer type of femoroacetabular impingement


1 Division of Orthopaedic Surgery, Zuoying Branch of Kaohsiung Armed Forces General Hospital, Kaohsiung; Department of Orthopaedics, Tri-Service General Hospital, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei, Taiwan
2 Department of Orthopaedics, Tri-Service General Hospital, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei, Taiwan

Date of Submission21-Oct-2021
Date of Decision24-Nov-2021
Date of Acceptance03-Dec-2021
Date of Web Publication27-Jan-2022

Correspondence Address:
Dr. Tsang-Shuo Shao
Division of Orthopaedic Surgery, Zuoying Branch of Kaohsiung Armed Forces General Hospital No. 553, Jiunshiau Rd., Zuoying, Kaohsiung
Taiwan
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Source of Support: None, Conflict of Interest: None


DOI: 10.4103/jmedsci.jmedsci_331_21

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  Abstract 


We present the case of a single, retired, 51-year-old Taiwanese female who had left groin pain when squatting, sitting, and walking for months. She visited our outpatient department (OPD) for further evaluation. During physical examination at the OPD, limited hip flexion and abduction were observed in comparison with the contralateral hip in the supine position. Impingement tests including flexion, abduction, and external rotation test and flexion, adduction, and internal rotation test were positive. In addition, the extension external pain and Patrick test results were positive. Pelvis radiography revealed a crossover sign and lateral center-edge angle of 40.6°. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed a degenerative tear of the anterosuperior labrum with a prominent pincer lesion. Consequently, she was admitted for arthroscopy-assisted rim resection of the pincer-type lesion and labral refixation. After surgery, the patient recovered well.

Keywords: Labrum refixation, pincer type of femoroacetabular impingement, acetabuloplasty


How to cite this article:
Shao TS, Shen PH, Pan RY. Refixation of labrum in pincer type of femoroacetabular impingement. J Med Sci 2023;43:43-6

How to cite this URL:
Shao TS, Shen PH, Pan RY. Refixation of labrum in pincer type of femoroacetabular impingement. J Med Sci [serial online] 2023 [cited 2023 Jun 9];43:43-6. Available from: https://www.jmedscindmc.com/text.asp?2023/43/1/43/336707




  Introduction Top


The labrum is a horseshoe-shaped soft-tissue structure, with a transverse ligament in its inferior portion. This fibrocartilaginous tissue is covered by the bony edge of the acetabulum, serving as an extension of the acetabular wall to the femoral head.[1] It functions as a suction seal and enlarges the total volume of the acetabulum. The seal creates negative pressure due to distraction and prevents hip dislocation. Furthermore, this mechanism contributes to hip joint lubrication and prevents direct contact with cartilage.[1]

Femoroacetabular impingement (FAI) – caused by an abnormal bump of the femoral head and neck against the acetabulum – results in an abnormal repetitive contact between the acetabular rim and the femoral head-and-neck junction.[2] There are three types of FAI: pincer type, cam type, and mixed type. FAI can occur with other intraarticular pathology and be a precursor to osteoarthritis.3-5 The overall incidence of FAI is 54.4 per 100,000 person-years.[6]

Labral debridement and labral repair are surgical options to restore normal hip mechanics and treat existing damage. We performed arthroscopic acetabuloplasty combined with labral refixation.


  Case Report Top


The ethics committee of the Tri-Service General Hospital approved this case report. (TSGHIRB No: B202105161). The patient was a single, retired, 51-year-old Taiwanese woman who visited the outpatient department for the evaluation of left groin pain when squatting, sitting, and walking for months. Upon physical examination, the patient had limited range of motion (ROM) of the left hip: flexion, 110°; abduction, 50°; adduction, 20°; internal rotation, 40°; and external rotation, 65°. The impingement tests flexion, abduction, external rotation (FABER) and flexion, adduction, internal rotation (FADIR) and Patrick test were positive. Pelvis radiography showed a crossover sign and lateral center-edge angle of 40.6° [Figure 1] and [Figure 2]. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs were prescribed for pain relief, and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was performed, which revealed a degenerative tear of the anterosuperior labrum with a prominent pincer lesion [Figure 3].
Figure 1: Crossover sign, also named figure of eight sign, indicates acetabular retroversion

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Figure 2: Lateral center-edge angle (LCEA) is a radiographic measurement of femoral head bony coverage by the acetabulum. LCEA = 40.6° (normal value under 40°)

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Figure 3: Degenerative tear of anteriosuperior labrum with prominent pincer lesion (white arrow)

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The patient was admitted for surgery. She was placed in the supine position on a fracture table with a Smith-Nephew SPIDER2 limb positioner. Next, the anterolateral portal followed by the midanterior portal was established under the C-arm intensifier. Labral lesion and associated pathology were evaluated through capsulotomy and diagnostic arthroscopy [Figure 4]a. The labrum was torn at the anterosuperior region of the acetabulum. The acetabular rim was assessed preoperatively and intraoperatively, and the width of the rim resection was planned. A high-speed bur (Arthrex, 5.5-mm) was used to trim the acetabular rim and prepare the bone bed for labral refixation [Figure 4]b; unstable bony fragments were removed. After acetabuloplasty, labral refixation was performed using a NanoTack Flex Anatomic Labrum Restoration System (Stryker). A 25° flex guide was used to determine the pilot holes and direct visualization to ensure that the joint was not penetrated [Figure 4]c. One suture limb was passed into the joint between the labrum and the rim. A BirdBeak (Arthrex) passed through the torn labrum, retrieved the suture, and tied it with the knots on the capsular side [Figure 4]d. Three 1.4-mm ICONIX suture anchors (Stryker) were used for labral refixation. The traction was relieved from the leg, and the hip ROM was checked to ensure no residual impingement.
Figure 4: (a) Tear of anteriosuperior labrum (A-acetabulum, L-labrum). (b) A high-speed 5.5-mm bur for acetabular rim trimming and preparing the bone bed (A-acetabulum). © 25° angle flex guide (Stryker) to determine the pilot hole (A-acetabulum, L-labrum). (d) Labrum refixation with suture anchors and keep the knots been tied on the capsular side (A-acetabulum, L-labrum, and FH-femoral head)

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The rehabilitation regimen involved protected weight-bearing and continuous passive motion therapy for 4 weeks and early proprioceptive training. The patient resumed competitive sports after 6 months. At 1-year follow-up, the groin pain had improved, and the patient was recommended to participate in a rehabilitation program. FABER and FADIR tests, extension external pain, and Patrick test results were negative, and no limited left hip ROM was observed. The Harris hip score improved from 78.0 (preoperatively) to 92.0 (postoperatively). In addition, MRI revealed improved acetabular coverage [Figure 5].
Figure 5: Postoperative 1-year follow-up, normal anterior acetabular coverage (white arrow)

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  Discussion Top


Surgical management of FAI focuses on labral debridement or labral repair/refixation, trimming of acetabular over coverage, and reshaping the cam lesion of the proximal femur. This treatment has been traditionally performed through trochanteric osteotomy and open hip dislocation.3-5,7 Recently, Xie Z et al.[7] reported the midterm (mean, 39.5 months) effectiveness of a surgical hip dislocation for FAI. There were significant differences in the visual analog scale and Harris scores, between pre-and post-operation and between 3 months postoperation and the last follow-up (P < 0.05). Surgical hip dislocation is still considered a safe and effective treatment for FAI at midterm follow-up.

The best treatment for labral tears in patients with FAI remains controversial. Previous reports of labral debridement have shown satisfactory clinical outcomes. Recently, better clinical outcomes have been reported in the labral refixation group than in the labral debridement group. In a comparative study between arthroscopic labral debridement (36 hips, mean follow-up: 21.4 months) and labral refixation (39 hips, mean follow-up: 16.5 months), the mean postoperative MHHS was 94.3 and 88.9 in the refixation and debridement group in the first year, respectively (P = 0.029). The failure rate was 11.1% in the debridement group and 7.7% in the labral refixation group (P > 0.05).[8]

In a systematic review[9] of arthroscopic labral repair for FAI, no complications were reported at 2-year follow-up, and patients were allowed to resume sports activities. The revision rate was 4.3% (9210 procedures); 1.9% (4 of 210) of the patients underwent total hip arthroplasty (THA; mean: 37.9 ± 7.5 months).

Arthroscopic treatment of pincer-type FAI has some advantages: (1) it is a minimally invasive procedure, (2) involves real-time intraoperative assessment and correction of FAI bony lesions, (3) early rehabilitation and return to daily activities and work, (4) and low complication rates. However, it is technically demanding and provides limited access to the medial and posterior aspects of the hip joint and thus not suitable for protrusion of the acetabulum and coxa profunda.[10]


  Conclusion Top


Both open and arthroscopic treatments of labral tears of the FAI had good outcomes. Labral refixation results in better clinical outcomes than focal excision/debridement. Arthroscopic acetabuloplasty combined with labral refixation is an effective treatment for labral tears in pincer-type FAI.

Acknowledgment

The authors would like to acknowledge the assistance of the Department of Orthopedics, Tri-Service General Hospital, for the editing and submission process suggestions.

Declaration of patient consent

The authors certify that they have obtained all appropriate patient consent forms. In this form, the patient gave her consent for her images and other clinical information to be reported in the journal. The patient understands that her name and initials will not be published, and due efforts will be made to conceal their identity, but anonymity cannot be guaranteed.

Financial support and sponsorship

Nil.

Conflicts of interest

There are no conflicts of interest.



 
  References Top

1.
Ferguson SJ, Bryant JT, Ganz R, Ito K. The acetabular labrum seal: A poroelastic finite element model. Clin Biomech (Bristol, Avon) 2000;15:463-8.  Back to cited text no. 1
    
2.
Beck M, Kalhor M, Leunig M, Ganz R. Hip morphology influences the pattern of damage to the acetabular cartilage: Femoroacetabular impingement as a cause of early osteoarthritis of the hip. J Bone Joint Surg Br 2005;87:1012-8.  Back to cited text no. 2
    
3.
Beck M. Leunig M, Parvizi J, Boutier V, Wyss D, Ganz R. Anterior femoroacetabular impingement: part II. Midterm results of surgical treatment. Clin Orthop Relat Res 2004;418:67-73.  Back to cited text no. 3
    
4.
Espinosa N, Rothenfluh DA, Beck M, Ganz R, Leunig M. Treatment of femoro-acetabular impingement: Preliminary results of labral refixation. J Bone Joint Surg Am 2006;88:925-35.  Back to cited text no. 4
    
5.
Ganz R. Parvizi J, Beck M, Leunig M, Notzli H, Siebenrock KA. Femoroacetabular impingement: a cause for osteoarthritis of the hip. Clin Orthop Relat Res 2003;417:112-20.  Back to cited text no. 5
    
6.
Hale RF, Melugin HP, Zhou J, LaPrade MD, Bernard C, Leland D, et al. Incidence of femoroacetabular impingement and surgical management trends over time. Am J Sports Med 2021;49:35-41.  Back to cited text no. 6
    
7.
Xie Z, Jin D, Sheng J, Zhang C. Mid-term effectiveness of surgical hip dislocation for femoroacetabular impingement. Zhongguo Xiu Fu Chong Jian Wai Ke Za Zhi 2019;33:451-4.  Back to cited text no. 7
    
8.
Larson CM, Giveans MR. Arthroscopic debridement versus refixation of the acetabular labrum associated with femoroacetabular impingement. Arthroscopy 2009;25:369-76.  Back to cited text no. 8
    
9.
Migliorini F, Maffulli N, Knobe M, Eschweiler J, Tingart M, Baroncini A. Arthroscopic labral repair for femoroacetabular impingement: A systematic review. Surgeon. 2021 Apr 2:S1479-666X(21) 00063-9.  Back to cited text no. 9
    
10.
Poh SY, Hube R, Dienst M. Arthroscopic treatment of femoroacetabular pincer impingement. Oper Orthop Traumatol 2015;27:536-52.  Back to cited text no. 10
    


    Figures

  [Figure 1], [Figure 2], [Figure 3], [Figure 4], [Figure 5]



 

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