We describe an arthroscopic technique for the treatment of labral pathology and femoroacetabular impingement that provides excellent access to the central and peripheral compartments while preserving the biomechanically crucial components of hip joint stability. The hip capsule and the ligaments within it have been shown to be integral to hip biomechanical stability. Other popular techniques such as interportal and T-capsulotomy inherently damage the capsuloligamentous complex of the hip and can be associated with postoperative gross instability, micro-instability, heterotopic ossification, and seroma. Capsular closure may mitigate some of these effects but has been associated with capsular insufficiency and requires postoperative restrictions that can be prolonged. Our surgical technique focuses on careful portal placement, replacement when necessary, use of a switching stick to maximize peripheral compartment visualization, and joint access in the most minimally invasive manner while avoiding complications associated with extended capsulotomy. The objective of this Technical Note is to describe a technique by which full access to the joint can be obtained while not disrupting the biomechanics of the joint capsule.

Background: Previous observational studies have suggested poor results of arthroscopic surgery for the treatment of acetabular labral tears in patients older than 40 years. Purpose: To compare hip arthroscopy versus nonoperative management for symptomatic labral tears in patients older than 40 years who have limited radiographic osteoarthritis. Study Design: Randomized controlled trial; Level of evidence, 1. Methods: In this single-surgeon, parallel randomized controlled trial, patients older than 40 years who had symptomatic, MRI-confirmed labral tears and limited radiographic osteoarthritis (Tönnis grades 0-2) were randomized 1:1 to arthroscopic surgery with postoperative physical therapy (SPT) or physical therapy alone (PTA) using an electronic randomization program. PTA patients who achieved unsatisfactory improvement were permitted to cross over to SPT after completing ≥14 weeks of physical therapy. The primary outcomes were International Hip Outcome Tool (iHOT-33) and modified Harris Hip Score (mHHS) at 12 months after randomization, and secondary outcomes included other patient-reported outcome measures and the visual analog scale. Outcomes were assessed at baseline and at 3, 6, and 12 months after randomization. Primary analysis was performed on an intention-to-treat basis using linear mixed-effect models. Sensitivity analyses included modified as-treated analysis and treatment-failure analysis. Due to infeasibility, patients and health care providers were both unblinded. Results: The study enrolled 90 patients (46 [51.1%] SPT; 44 [48.9%] PTA); of these, 81 patients (42 [51.9%] SPT; 39 (48.1%) PTA) completed 12-month follow-up. A total of 28 of the 44 PTA patients crossed over to SPT within the study period (63.6% crossover). Intention-to-treat analysis revealed significantly greater iHOT-33 scores (+12.11; P = .007) and mHHS scores (+6.99 points; P = .04) in the SPT group than the PTA group at 12 months. Modified as-treated analysis revealed that these differences exceeded the minimal clinically important difference of 10.0 points (SPT-PTA iHOT-33, +11.95) and 8.0 points (SPT-PTA mHHS, +9.76), respectively. Conclusion: In patients older than 40 years with limited osteoarthritis, arthroscopic acetabular labral repair with postoperative physical therapy led to better outcomes than physical therapy alone. Thus, age over 40 years should not be considered a contraindication to arthroscopic acetabular labral repair. Registration: NCT03909178 (ClinicalTrials.gov identifier)

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The prevalence of hip arthroscopy has increased exponentially with the advent of arthroscopic labral repair techniques for femoroacetabular impingement. The goal of arthroscopic labral repair is to re-create the anatomic suction seal of the labrum against the femoral head. This important anatomic relationship has been demonstrated in several biomechanical studies. Performing the acetabular recession and evaluating the congruity of labral repairs during surgery is difficult with the application of traction distracting the femoral head from the chondrolabral junction. Additionally, prolonged traction risks nerve injury during hip arthroscopy. The purpose of this technique article is to describe a method of using traction only for central compartment work, and releasing the traction to allow the femoral head to reduce the labrum to its anatomic position for acetabular recession, anchor placement, and suture fixation. In this manner, the presented technique prevents an “out-of-round” or everted repair. This technique re-creates the native anatomy and biomechanics of the hip after acetabular recession and labral repair while decreasing traction time.