Levy, Bruce A.

Abstract A posterior tibial slope (PTS) greater than 12° is an established risk factor for anterior cruciate ligament graft reconstruction failure. Reducing PTS is thus considered protective to the anterior cruciate ligament graft, and it can be achieved through an anterior closing‐wedge osteotomy. Prior to the procedure, PTS should be accurately measured to determine the amount of correction that is needed. Radiographic films remain the gold standard for measuring PTS. The purpose of this presentation is to show validated and reproducible step‐by‐step techniques for measuring PTS and anterior tibial translation for anterior closing‐wedge osteotomy using monopedal full‐length weight‐bearing tibia standing radiographs.

Abstract Tunnel convergence in multiligament knee surgery remains a technical challenge. Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) femoral sockets/tunnels and lateral collateral ligament (LCL) femoral sockets/tunnels during anatomic posterolateral corner (PLC) reconstructions are particularly vulnerable to convergence. This is secondary to the limited amount of bony real estate available on the lateral distal femur. Previous studies have attempted to define a specific angle to direct the LCL tunnel away from the ACL tunnel. However, inconsistency with ACL femoral socket creation and variability in bony architecture can make this strategy unreliable. This surgical technique describes how to minimize the risk of ACL and LCL tunnel convergence during ACL and PLC reconstructions.

Background: Femoroacetabular impingement (FAI) is a common injury experienced by basketball players. Surgical management with arthroscopic labral repair and femoral osteochondroplasty can lead to successful outcomes for athletes whose nonoperative management fails. Recent studies have demonstrated that athletes undergoing hip arthroscopy in the setting of FAI had favorable return-to-sport (RTS) and sport continuation outcomes. Purpose: To evaluate patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) and RTS rates at minimum 5-year follow-up in basketball players after hip arthroscopy for FAI. Study Design: Case series; Level of evidence, 4. Methods: All active basketball players at the recreational, high school, and collegiate levels who underwent primary hip arthroscopy with labral repair for FAI between August 2009 and December 2019 were identified. Postoperative RTS, revision rates, and surgery satisfaction at final follow-up were evaluated. PROMs were also analyzed as follows: visual analog scale, Tegner Activity Scale, modified Harris Hip Score, Hip Outcome Score–Activities of Daily Living, and Hip Outcome Score–Sport. Results: Fifty-three patients (64 hips) were included with a mean ± SD age of 21.2 ± 6.0 years. Most athletes played recreational or high school basketball (85%), while 15% played college basketball. Forty-three patients attempted to return to basketball. Of these patients, 35 (81%) returned to basketball after surgery, with 32 (91%) returning to the same level of play. Patients who returned to basketball had significantly improved outcomes on the modified Harris Hip Score ( P = .006), Hip Outcome Score–Activities of Daily Living ( P = .007), Hip Outcome Score–Sport ( P = .004), Tegner Activity Scale ( P = .010), and visual analog scale with use ( P = .041) as compared with those who did not return. High school athletes had decreased odds of RTS when compared with recreational athletes ( P = .01). There was significant improvement in all PROMs from baseline to minimum 5-year follow-up ( P < .05). Conclusion: At minimum 5-year follow-up, basketball players demonstrated durable improvements in PROMs and an RTS rate of 81% after hip arthroscopy for FAI. The majority of athletes returned to the same level of competition. There were significantly improved PROMs in patients who returned to sport versus those who did not. High school athletes had decreased odds of RTS when compared with recreational athletes. However, body mass index, sex, age, alpha angle, and basketball position did not significantly correlate with RTS outcomes.

Background: Frequent pivoting, rotation, and deep hip flexion place football players at high risk for femoroacetabular impingement (FAI), a leading cause of hip pain in this population. Previous studies have primarily focused on professional National Football League athletes undergoing mixed surgical techniques, including labral debridement. Limited data exist on outcomes in younger, amateur players treated with labral repair. Purpose: To report return to sport (RTS) rates and functional outcomes at a minimum 5-year follow-up in primarily active high school and college football players undergoing primary hip arthroscopy with labral repair for FAI. Study Design: Case series, Level of evidence, 4. Methods: All football players who underwent primary hip arthroscopy with labral repair for FAI between 2010 and 2019 were identified from an institutional database. Collected data included descriptive data, radiographic parameters, surgical details, and reoperations. At a minimum 5-year follow-up, RTS outcomes and patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs), such as the Modified Harris Hip Score (mHHS) and Hip Outcome Score (HOS), were evaluated. Results: A total of 36 hips in 27 male athletes (mean age, 18 years; body mass index, 28.1 kg/m 2 ) were included. The majority of athletes competed at the high school (70%) or collegiate level (26%). Mean preoperative radiographic measurements were as follows: lateral center-edge angle, 31.6°; Tönnis angle, 4.1°; and alpha angle, 61.4°. Femoroplasty and acetabuloplasty were performed in 100% and 86% of cases, respectively. Also, 84% of players returned to football, all at the same or higher level than before surgery. At a mean follow-up of 9.8 years, all PROMs improved significantly from baseline ( P < .002). Outcome scores at follow-up were as follows: mHHS 90.5; HOS-Activities of Daily Living, 94.5; HOS-Sports-Specific Subscale, 91.1; and visual analog scale (VAS) pain with use, 2.3/10; VAS pain at rest, 1.3/10; and surgical satisfaction, 8.5/10. No patients required revision surgery. However, 2 patients (7%) underwent reoperations—including 1 for heterotopic ossification excision and 1 for periacetabular osteotomy. Conclusion: American football players who underwent primary hip arthroscopy with labral repair for FAI achieved excellent long-term outcomes, with high RTS rates at the same or higher levels, and improvements in PROMs and patient satisfaction. Despite favorable outcomes, nonmedical factors, such as graduation, may influence RTS in competitive athletes, particularly at the high school and collegiate levels.

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.

Background: Meniscal preservation has been demonstrated to contribute to long-term knee health and has been a successful intervention in isolation and in patients with anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR). The long-term results of meniscal repair in the setting of revision ACLR have yet to be documented. Purpose: To report the incidence of meniscal repair failures at the 6-year follow-up in a cohort of patients who underwent concurrent revision ACLR and primary meniscal repair. Study Design: Prospective cohort study; Level of evidence, 2. Methods: All revision ACLRs with concomitant primary meniscal repair cases from a multicenter group between 2006 and 2011 were selected. Six-year follow-up was obtained to determine whether any subsequent surgery had occurred since their initial revision ACLR. If so, operative reports were obtained, whenever possible, to verify pathological condition and treatment. Results: In total, 221 patients from 1234 revision ACLRs underwent concurrent primary meniscal repairs (18% of the cohort). There were 238 repairs performed: 173 medial and 65 lateral. The majority of these repairs (n = 181; 76%) were performed with an all-inside technique. Six-year surgical follow-up was obtained in 77% (171/221) of the cohort, or 189 of 238 (79%) of the repairs (136 medial, 53 lateral). The meniscal repair failure rate, defined as reoperation, was 16% (31/189) at 6 years. Of the 31 failures, 28 were medial (24 all-inside, 4 inside-out; 28/136 = 20.6% failure rate) and 3 were lateral (2 all-inside, 1 inside-out; 3/53 = 5.7% failure rate). Three medial failures were treated in conjunction with a subsequent repeat revision ACLR. Medial tears underwent reoperation for failure at a significantly higher rate than lateral tears (20.6% vs 5.7%; P = .01) and had a significantly shorter survival time compared with lateral tears ( P = .02). No difference was found between the failure and nonfailure groups when it came to tear type, tear length, repair technique utilized, suture/implant type, or number of sutures used between the 2 groups. Conclusion: Meniscal repair in the revision ACLR setting has a 16% failure rate at 6 years. Failure rates for medial tears (20.6%) were found to be higher than that for lateral tears (5.7%), which aligns with previous studies in both the revision and primary ACLR setting.

Background: Femoroacetabular impingement (FAI) is a common cause of hip pain in female athletes. There are limited data on midterm outcomes for female athletes undergoing hip arthroscopic surgery. Purpose: To evaluate return-to-sport rates and clinical outcomes in female athletes with FAI after primary hip arthroscopic surgery with labral repair and femoral osteochondroplasty. Study Design: Case series; Level of evidence, 4. Methods: A retrospective analysis of a single institution’s database was performed to identify female athletes who underwent primary hip arthroscopic surgery with labral repair and femoral osteochondroplasty from July 2011 to October 2019 with a minimum 5-year follow-up. Preoperative radiographs were evaluated for the lateral center-edge angle, Tonnis angle, Tonnis grade, and alpha angle. Patient-reported outcome measure (PROM) scores, including those for the modified Harris Hip Score, Hip Outcome Score, Tegner Activity Scale, and visual analog scale for pain, as well as patient satisfaction with surgery were analyzed postoperatively. Results: A total of 63 hips (27 left, 36 right) in 56 female patients (mean age, 21.6 ± 8.0 years; mean body mass index, 24.7 ± 4.8 kg/m 2 ) were included and followed for a mean of 8.4 ± 2.1 years (range, 5.0-13.2 years). Preoperatively, patients participated in basketball (n = 18), dance (n = 21), hockey (n = 8), and soccer (n = 12). Of the 56 patients, 41 attempted to return to sport. There were 28 (68%) female athletes who successfully returned to their preoperative sport. Of the total cohort, 21 (38%) patients cited non–hip-related factors for discontinuing their sport. All postoperative PROM scores improved significantly compared with preoperatively ( P ≤ .002) for patients with available preoperative data. Those who returned to sport had significantly improved Hip Outcome Score values compared with those who did not return to sport ( P ≤ .010). Conclusion: Female athletes who underwent primary hip arthroscopic surgery for FAI had significant improvements in PROM scores and moderate return-to-sport rates at a minimum 5-year follow-up. Most athletes discontinued sports because of non–hip-related factors, although hip-related issues were also cited. Our analysis highlights the need for thorough perioperative counseling and establishing appropriate patient expectations for female athletes before hip arthroscopic surgery.

Objectives: Periacetabular osteotomy (PAO) is utilized for the treatment of hip dysplasia, with a growing trend towards hip arthroscopy at the time of PAO or in a planned, staged manner prior to PAO in order to address intra-articular pathology such as labral tears. For patients with persistent or new pain following isolated PAO, a subset undergo unplanned, primary hip arthroscopy. To date, there is a paucity of available evidence regarding the risk factors for and outcomes of unplanned hip arthroscopy for persistent or new pain after PAO. The purpose of this study was to determine demographic and radiographic characteristics of patients undergoing hip arthroscopy for persistent pain after PAO and also to compare radiographic parameters, surgical characteristics, and postoperative PROMs between patients that underwent hip arthroscopy following PAO and a demographically similar group of controls without acetabular dysplasia that underwent primary hip arthroscopy. Methods: An institutional database of 3014 hip arthroscopies performed between 1988 and 2022 was reviewed for patients having undergone unplanned (i.e. non-staged) first-time hip arthroscopy after PAO. These patients were propensity-matched on a 1:2 ratio with demographically similar, non-dysplastic patients undergoing primary hip arthroscopy with labral repair. All patients were contacted at final-follow-up to collect outcomes including subsequent procedures, progression to THA, and patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs), including modified Harris Hip Score (mHHS), Hip Outcome Score (HOS), International Hip Outcome Tool (iHOT), Tegner Activity Scores, Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) for pain, and surgery satisfaction. Demographics, radiographic characteristics, and postoperative outcomes were compared. All statistical analysis and Kaplan-Meier survival curve analysis was performed using R software (version 4.4.1). Results: We identified 22 hips in 21 patients (17 female, 4 male; age: 24.6 ± 8.5 years; BMI: 29.3 ± 7.4 kg/m²) who underwent first-time arthroscopy after ipsilateral PAO and were followed for a mean of 7.2 ± 2.8 years (Table 1). The median post-PAO LCEA was 28° (IQR: 24.6 – 31.7) and the mean Tönnis angle was 4.2° ± 5.9. The median time from the date of PAO to date of subsequent hip arthroscopy was 1.6 years (IQR: 1.1 - 3.4). Compared to the control group, there was a significantly lower rate of femoral osteochondroplasty (50% vs, 86%, p < 0.01), as well as trends towards lower rate of labral repair (77% vs. 95% p = 0.11), and higher rate of capsular repair (64% vs. 75%, p = 0.34). No differences were found between the PAO and control groups in any of the postoperative PROMs (Table 2). Among the PAO patients, 3 (20%) progressed to total hip arthroplasty (THA) compared to 1 (9%) in the control group (p=0.62). Conclusions: Hip arthroscopy after prior PAO was associated with postoperative improvements in pain and moderate rates of conversion to THA. When patients undergoing hip arthroscopy following PAO were compared to a demographically similar matched cohort of nondysplastic hips who underwent primary hip arthroscopy without a prior PAO, similar postoperative outcome scores were observed. This data provides valuable counselling information for clinicians discussing hip arthroscopy in the setting of patients with persistent pain following PAO.

Objectives: The role of femoral version (FV[MOU1] ) in the pre-arthritic hip pain remains increasingly recognized, including in femoroacetabular impingement (FAI). Increased femoral version or decreased femoral version may play a role in hip biomechanics contributing to hip instability or impingement, respectively. The purpose of this study was to compare the outcomes of hip arthroscopy for FAI across different femoral version groups in a multicenter prospective cohort study. Methods: A prospective multicenter cohort study of 677 FAI patients undergoing primary hip arthroscopy was performed. The current study included 603 patients with low-dose CT performed preoperatively for measurement of femoral version from the larger cohort. Inclusion criteria were patients aged 14-45 years with idiopathic FAI. Exclusion criteria were previous ipsilateral hip procedures, associated disorders, or Tönnis 2 or greater osteoarthritis. Femoral version was measured on low-dose computed tomography (CT) utilizing the Yoshioka oblique method and was broken into five subgroups: <5° (decreased FV), 6-15° (normal FV), 16-25° (mildly increased FV), 26-35° (moderately increased FV), 35°+ (severely increased FV). Patient-reported outcomes (PROs) were measured at a minimum one-year follow-up. The modified Harris hip score (mHHS) was assessed relative to the minimal clinically important difference (MCID) of 8 and patient acceptable symptom state (PASS) of 74. Additional PROs included the HOOS Pain and Sports/Recreation subscores and the iHOT-12 score. Composite failure was defined as a reoperation for persistent symptoms or a failure to achieve either the mHHS MCID or PASS. Independent t-test (Mann-Whitney U) and ANOVA were utilized to compare groups. Results: Males had statistically lower femoral version than females (14.0° vs 18.0°; p<0.001). In females, 38.0% had mildly increased FV, 17.9% had moderately increased FV, and 3.6% had severely elevated FV. This is compared to 27.6%, 9.2%, and 1.8% in males, respectively (all p<0.001). Decreased FV was present in 7.1% of males, compared to 5.9% of females. Increased or decreased femoral versions appear to have similar outcomes to normal version when evaluated by PROs or outcome states. In fact, mildly increased and moderate increased FV group demonstrated the best outcomes. Changes in HOOS pain and sports subscores were significantly higher for these groups. Severely increased FV, >35°, was only present in 2.8% of patients but did demonstrate a higher rate of composite failure (15.4%) compared to moderately increased FV (3.1%). The decreased FV group had a composite failure of 10.4% compared to normal femoral version, 16-25° (10.2%). Conclusions: In a patient cohort undergoing hip arthroscopy for FAI, significant differences in FV between males and females were present. Overall, in a multicenter prospective cohort study, the outcomes of hip arthroscopy for FAI did not seem to differ between increased or decreased femoral versions but were superior in mild to moderately increased FV. Future research with longer-term follow-up is still needed to definitively establish the longevity of outcomes of hip arthroscopy relative to FV.