Krych, Aaron J.

Background: A critical component of conducting systematic reviews or meta-analyses is assessing the methodological quality and bias of included studies. Several methodological quality assessment tools have been developed; however, these tools may not be relevant to observational sports medicine research, which carries numerous unique nuances and biases. Purpose: To develop the Sport Publication Observational Research Tool (SPORT), which evaluates and scores the methodological quality of observational sports medicine research. Study Design: Consensus statement. Methods: SPORT was developed through a modified Delphi approach involving members from the Herodicus Society and The FORUM. All active members were invited to participate in the process aimed at building consensus on SPORT content and scoring. After finalizing SPORT, a power analysis led to the independent selection of 55 observational clinical sports medicine studies, which were scored twice by 4 reviewers of varying training levels. Interrater and intrarater reliability for SPORT was assessed using intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs). The distribution and percentiles for total SPORT score across the 55 studies were calculated. SPORT was also compared with the methodological index for non-randomized studies (MINORS), a commonly utilized quality assessment tool. Results: A total of 51 members participated and achieved 100%, 100%, 98.0%, and 98.0% completion rates for rounds 1 through 4, respectively. The final SPORT included 19 subscores related to methodological quality and bias and achieved 94% consensus approval. Mean SPORT completion time was 6 minutes and 19 seconds per study, which varied significantly by reviewer training level. The subscore "peer review" demonstrated unacceptable reliability and was removed. The remaining 18 subscores exhibited ICC ranges of 0.599 to 0.955 for interrater reliability and 0.530 to 0.936 for intrarater reliability. Total SPORT score demonstrated excellent agreement, for interrater (ICC, 0.967) and intrarater reliability (ICC, 0.966). Median SPORT score across the 55 studies was 20.0 and skewed toward lower scores. There was a moderate significant correlation between SPORT and MINORS ( r [53] = 0.575; P < .001). Conclusion: An objective tool to assess the methodologic quality of observational sports medicine research (SPORT) was successfully developed through a modified Delphi approach with numerous content experts in the field. This tool may be useful in assessing the methodological quality of primary observational sports medicine studies included in systematic reviews and meta-analyses.

Abstract Acute, traumatic meniscus tears are common and should be repaired whenever possible. However, the biological age of the patient, along with the specific tear morphology, may significantly influence the selection of the repair technique, expected clinical outcomes and the postoperative rehabilitation protocol. Risk factors for failure of meniscus repair, such as ligament laxity, need to be addressed to improve the healing potential of the meniscus. Biologic augmentation strategies, including bone marrow stimulation, platelet‐rich plasma, fibrin clot, mesenchymal stem cells or meniscal wrapping, can be used to enhance healing and reduce failure of meniscus repair rates. However, the clinical evidence remains limited and of low quality. As such, the routine use of biologic augmentation in meniscus repair warrants critical evaluation. In patients with post‐meniscectomy syndrome, meniscus allograft transplantation (MAT) may be a viable option to reduce pain and joint degeneration and improve knee function. Meniscus implants provide alternatives to traditional MAT; however, their long‐term efficacy, chondroprotective effects and integration within the knee joint require further research. Meniscus reconstruction using tendon autografts has been described as an alternative treatment option in patients with meniscus loss. Emerging methods, such as gene therapy and repurposed drugs, demonstrate in vitro potential for advancing meniscal repair, although their clinical applications are still in their infancy. Future research is necessary to optimize meniscal repair techniques, enhance clinical efficacy, and ultimately, improve outcomes in patients. Level of Evidence Level V.

Abstract Medial meniscus extrusion, particularly in the setting of medial meniscus posterior root tears (MMPRTs), has become an area of interest in recent years due to the correlation between meniscus extrusion with inferior clinical outcomes, progression to osteoarthritis, and increased rate of conversion to total knee arthroplasty after MMPRT repair. This correlation led to the development of meniscus centralisations procedures that can be performed in addition to MMPRT repair and/or high tibial osteotomy. Although it was originally thought that medial meniscus extrusion was a consequence of MMPRTs, it has been reported that meniscus extrusion often precedes the development of MMPRTs, which suggests that there may be underlying meniscus pathology that predisposes to the development of both meniscus extrusion and MMPRTs. The purpose of this narrative review is to provide an overview of the anatomy, pathology, and surgical management of meniscus extrusion and MMPRTs, while identifying areas of future research to further elucidate the relationship meniscus extrusion and MMPRTs that may be necessary to improve outcomes after MMPRT repair. Level of Evidence Level V.

Background: Arthroscopic treatment of excessive acetabular coverage with pincer morphology or coxa profunda can be challenging. In patients with excessive acetabular coverage with nondistractible hips, an outside-in capsuolotomy can be considered to gain safe and efficient intra-articular access to the hip. Indications: The indications for an outside-in capsulotomy include patients with acetabular retroversion, a lateral center-edge angle >40°, coxa profunda or protrusio, or stiff, older male patients who remain hip preservation candidates. Technique Description: The outside-in capsulotomy is performed once it is recognized that traction on the operative extremity will not provide adequate working space for safe intra-articular access. Traction is taken off the operative extremity, and an anterolateral portal is localized to the 12:00 position on the hip joint with the use of fluoroscopy. The camera is then placed in a juxta-capsular location, and a modified anterior portal is created under direct arthroscopic visualization. We then proceed with extracapsular dissection to identify the indirect head of the rectus. An outside-in capsulotomy is then performed parallel to the indirect head of the rectus, approximately 5 mm distal to its insertion on the acetabular rim. Prior to deep completion of the capsulotomy, the hip joint is flexed to 30° to protect the articular cartilage of the femoral head. Once intra-articular access is obtained, traction can be reapplied, and one can proceed with hip arthroscopy in a standard fashion. Results: This technique decreases the traction time needed, given that the capsulotomy is performed without traction applied. Additionally, the amount of force required for hip distraction is decreased once the capsuolotomy has been completed, through usual sectioning of the iliofemoral ligament. The presented technique is both safe and efficacious, with no published difference in complications as compared to standard inside-out access. A published series of patients with severe pincer morphology and lateral overcoverage who undergo hip arthroscopy with outside-in access demonstrates satisfactory postoperative improvements in patient-reported outcome measures. Discussion/Conclusion: The outside-in capsulotomy provides a means for safe access to the hip joint in otherwise limited or nondistractible hips.

Background: Femoroacetabular impingement (FAI) is a common cause of hip pain in young, active athletes. American football players place high demands on the hip due to the sport's requirements for pivoting, cutting, and loading in deep flexion. Although arthroscopic treatment of FAI in professional National Football League (NFL) players has shown favorable outcomes, football-specific outcomes in non-NFL athletes remain limited. Purpose: To report the return-to-sport (RTS) rates and functional outcomes at a minimum 2-year follow-up for active American football players competing at multiple levels after primary hip arthroscopy for FAI. Study Design: Case series; Level of evidence, 4. Methods: An institutional database was queried to identify all active American football players who underwent primary hip arthroscopy with labral repair between 2010 and 2023. Demographic characteristics, radiographic parameters, procedure details, complications, and reoperations were collected. Follow-up was completed at a minimum of 2 years to obtain updated patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) as well as football-specific data, including current participation and RTS status. PROMs were reported as mean ± standard deviation, and categorical variables, including RTS, were reported as frequencies. Pre- versus postoperative PROMs were compared using t tests or Mann-Whitney U tests to assess outcomes. Results: In total, 49 hips in 38 male football players (age, 18.1 years; range, 14-26 years) were included. Most athletes played at the high school (74%) or college level (21%). A total of 51% played as linemen. Labral repair was performed in all cases. At a mean 7.6 years, mean modified Harris Hip Score was 90 ± 13, Hip Outcome Score–Activities of Daily Living was 95 ± 7, and Hip Outcome Score–Sport was 89 ± 17. Overall mean surgery satisfaction was 8.7 ± 1.7 (out of 10). Significant postoperative improvements were observed in all PROMs ( P ≤ .002). Twelve players (32%) did not attempt RTS due to other nonmedical factors and were excluded from return to sport analysis. A total of 23 (88%) players achieved RTS, and 3 players (12%) did not. Two players (8%) cited other injuries, and 1 player (4%) continued to have hip limitations. Four hips (8%) underwent reoperation at a mean 4.9 years postoperative. Conclusion: Amateur American football players undergoing primary hip arthroscopy for FAI demonstrated excellent patient-reported outcomes and a high RTS rate of 88%, when excluding those who did not return for nonmedical reasons, at a mean 7.6-year follow-up. Notable positional differences were observed across multiple levels of play. Although outcomes were generally favorable, both medical and nonmedical factors could limit return to sport, particularly among high school and college athletes.

Abstract Purpose Acetabular overcoverage (pincer morphology) has been suggested to be both a source of pain and dysfunction as well as potentially protective against osteoarthritic change. The purpose of this study was to compare minimum 5-year clinical outcomes of patients undergoing primary hip arthroscopic labral repair with a lateral center edge angle (LCEA) of ≥ 40° as compared to non-dysplastic controls with an LCEA of 25-40°. Methods We identified all patients that underwent primary hip arthroscopy with labral repair between 2009-2019 at a single academic institution. Patients with LCEA ≥ 40° (pincer) were propensity matched to non-dysplastic controls with LCEA 25-40° on a 1:2 basis by sex, age, body mass index (BMI), and year of surgery. Patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) including Visual Analog Scale (VAS) for pain, Tegner activity score, modified Harris Hip Score (mHHS), International Hip Outcome Tool (iHOT-12), and Hip Outcome Score (HOS) were analyzed, as were reoperations and conversions to total hip arthroplasty (THA). Results Fifty-five patients with pincer morphology (mean preoperative LCEA: 41.9°, Tonnis angle: -7.3°, alpha angle: 58.8°) were matched to 110 non-dysplastic controls (LCEA: 31.2°, Tonnis angle: 2.2°, alpha angle: 58.9°), resulting in a total of 165 hips in 163 patients (67% females, mean age: 37.7 years, BMI: 26.8 kg/m2). Pincer patients were corrected to a mean postoperative LCEA of 38.7° (p&lt;0.0001), with 22 pincer patients having residual overcoverage, namely a postoperative LCEA ≥ 40° (range: 40.0-45.8°). At mean 7.8 years follow-up (range: 5.1-13.2), there was no difference in any postoperative PROMs between pincers and controls (p&gt;0.15) and no difference in PROMs between patients with residual overcoverage and pincer patients with a postoperatively normalized LCEA (p&gt;0.25). At final follow-up, 4 patients in the pincer cohort (7%) and 21 controls (19%) had converted to THA (p=0.046). Conclusion Patients with lateral acetabular overcoverage demonstrated similar and satisfactory postoperative PROMs at a minimum of 5-year follow-up compared to propensity-matched non-dysplastic controls, regardless of if the LCEA was corrected to &lt;40°. Of note, non-dysplastic controls demonstrated an increased rate of conversion to THA, supporting the potentially chondroprotective role of acetabular overcoverage.

Abstract Introduction Understanding factors that impact outcomes of total hip arthroplasty (THA) can aid clinical decision-making and patient counselling. The purpose of this study was to investigate functional outcomes, complications, and reoperation rates among patients undergoing primary THA after hip arthroscopy (HA-THA) compared to a matched cohort of primary THA patients without prior arthroscopy (THA-only). Methods A retrospective review was performed to identify all patients who underwent primary THA after prior hip arthroscopy from 2009-2022 at a single institution. Patients with a history of revision arthroscopy were excluded. Cases were propensity-matched with primary THA controls in a 1:4 ratio by age at time of THA, sex, body mass index, surgical approach, and year of surgery. At minimum 2-year follow-up, patient-reported outcomes (PROs) including Forgotten Joint Score (FJS), Modified Harris Hip Score (mHHS), Hip Disability and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score Pain (HOOS pain), and Visual Analog Pain Scale (VAS) were analyzed. Results Sixty-three hips in 60 patients (age: 47.3±9.4 years, BMI: 29.8±6.2 kg/m2) were matched to 252 THA-only hips, with patients converting to THA at a mean 3.1 years (range 0.3-10.3) following hip arthroscopy. While both HA-THA and THA patients demonstrated significant (p&lt;0.001) postoperative improvements in PROs, HA-THA patients reported significantly lower postoperative FJS, mHHS, HOOS pain, and VAS pain scores (p&lt;0.001) as compared to THA-only controls. At mean 6.6±3.2 years follow-up, HA-THA patients with preoperative Tönnis grades 2-3 reported significantly increased FJS, mHHS, and HOOS pain compared to those with preoperative Tönnis grades of 0-1 (p≤0.03). Additionally, HA-THA patients with preoperative Tönnis grades 0-1 exhibited worse PROs (p&lt;0.001) as compared to THA-only controls. While there were no differences in complication rates between HA-THA patients and THA-only controls (8% vs. 5%, p=0.49), all-cause reoperation was greater amongst HA-THA patients compared to THA-only (10% vs. 2%, p=0.01). Conclusion While improved compared to preoperatively, patients undergoing THA after prior hip arthroscopy demonstrated inferior outcomes at mid-term follow up as compared to a demographically age-matched cohort without prior arthroscopy. When considering conversion to THA following arthroscopy, clinicians should consider counseling patients regarding improved outcomes in the setting of advanced radiographic osteoarthritis, and potentially increased all-cause reoperation.

Abstract Background Femoral version plays a critical role in pre-arthritic hip pain, particularly in femoroacetabular impingement (FAI). Variations in femoral version may contribute to hip instability or impingement. This study examines the outcomes of hip arthroscopy for FAI across different femoral version groups. Methods A prospective multicenter cohort of 677 FAI patients undergoing primary hip arthroscopy was collected, with 603 patients in this study based on recorded femoral version. Inclusion criteria were patients aged 14-45 years with idiopathic FAI, while previous ipsilateral hip procedures, associated disorders, or Tönnis 2 or greater osteoarthritis were excluded. Femoral version was measured on low-dose computed tomography (CT) utilizing the Yoshioka oblique method and categorized into five subgroups: &lt;5°, 6°-15°, 16°-25°, 26°-35°, 35°+. Patient-reported outcomes (PROs) were obtained at minimum one-year follow-up. The modified Harris hip score (mHHS) was assessed relative to minimal clinically important difference (MCID) of 8 and patient acceptable symptom state (PASS) of 74. Additional PROs included HOOS Pain and Sports/Recreation subscores and iHOT-12 score. Composite failure was defined as reoperation for persistent symptoms or failure to achieve either the mHHS MCID or PASS. Results Males had statistically lower femoral version than females (14.0 vs 18.0; p&lt;0.001). In females, 38.0% had a femoral version of 16°-25°, 17.9% between 26°-35°, and 3.6% greater than 35°, compared to 27.6%, 9.2%, and 1.8% in males, respectively (all p&lt;0.001). Increased or decreased femoral versions appear to have similar outcomes to normal version. The mildly increased femoral anteversion groups of 16°-25° and 26°-35° demonstrated the best outcomes with changes in HOOS pain and sports subscores being significantly higher. Severely increased femoral anteversion, &gt;35°, only present in 2.8% of patients, demonstrated a higher composite failure rate (15.4%) compared to moderately increased, 26°-35°, femoral version (3.1%). The decreased femoral version group, ≤5°, had a composite failure of 10.4% compared to normal femoral version, 16°-25° (10.2%). Conclusions The general anatomy differences between males and females lends males to be more in retroversion while females tend to be more anteverted. Overall, outcomes did not seem to differ between increased or decreased femoral versions but were superior at mildly increased femoral versions.

Objective The incidence of hip osteoarthritis (OA) is increasing with the aging population, leading to interest in intra-articular orthobiologic injections to alleviate symptoms and potentially slow disease progression. This systematic review aims to evaluate the clinical outcomes associated with six orthobiologic therapies for hip OA: hyaluronic acid (HA), platelet-rich plasma (PRP), autologous cells therapy (ACT), microfragmented adipose tissue (MFAT), and bone marrow aspirate (BMA) and its concentration (BMAC). Methods We conducted a literature search according to the PRISMA guidelines. Studies were included in our review if they used at least one of the four orthobiologic therapies and reported on the clinical outcome using patient reported outcome measures (PROMs). Since there is a large variability among clinical outcomes, we focused on the three most utilized PROMs (VAS, WOMAC, and HHS) and the latest follow-up time point. Results Of the 716 studies reviewed, thirty-six studies (n=36) fit inclusion criteria. There were 21 studies examining HA, 11 on PRP, 3 for MFAT, 2 for ACT, and 3 on BMA/BMAC. Eight studies were randomized controlled trials and 28 were cohort studies. The mean age of the patient population ranged from 45 ± 17.0 to 74 ± 8.0. The baseline grade of osteoarthritis ranged from 1-4 but was most reported as moderate (2-3). Overall, there was an improvement in PROMs at the latest follow-up after receiving orthobiologic interventions. Discussion Orthobiologic injections have shown promise for improving PROMs in patients with hip OA. Future studies should evaluate long-term efficacy and include randomized trials to establish efficacy.

Purpose Hip arthroscopy is a minimally invasive procedure which has been increasingly used among athletes for several hip joint related pathologies as it allows for a faster recovery. However, objective return to sport criteria have not been described previously among this population. Objective To systematically review the literature to evaluate and describe the objective return-to-sport (RTS) criteria to release patients back to sport following hip arthroscopy. Methods We conducted a comprehensive literature search according to the PRISMA guidelines. Studies were included in the review if patients underwent a hip arthroscopy procedure and the study described criteria for their patients to RTS. Two independent reviewers selected studies for inclusion and extracted study characteristics and objective RTS criteria. Results Of the 306 that were a part of our original search, 6 studies fit our inclusion criteria. There were 250 athletes (average age: 26.1) and 263 hips which underwent hip arthroscopy surgery. Of these athletes, the cohort was on average 46.5% female and an average of 91.2% of athletes returned to sport about 6 months following surgery. The primary sports these athletes participated in were soccer, swimming, skiing/snowboarding, and hockey. The objective RTS measures that were generally described included sport specific tests, range-of-motion, hip strength, and performance-based criteria. Conclusion There are minimal studies who described objective RTS criteria to release patients back to sport following hip arthroscopy procedures. Sports specific tests, hip strength, and performance-based criteria were mentioned as objective criteria to release patients back to sport.