The Optimal Arthroscopic Release Plane of External Snapping Hip

Abstract

Background: Some studies have reported arthroscopic release of external snapping hip(ESH). However, there is no research on the effect of different arthroscopic release plane for ESH. We will study the effect of release plane on arthroscopic surgery, and suggest an optimal release plane.Methods: From September 2017 to December 2018, 177 bilateral and 6 unilateral ESH patients who would receive arthroscopic release of ESH and agree to attend at this study were enrolled. One release plane was randomly offered for each operation hip out of 6 different arthroscopic release planes(referred to the apex of the great trochanter(GT), including planes of -2cm, 0cm, 2cm, 4cm, 6cm and 8cm groups). All patients received continuous follow-up, comparing preoperative and postoperative hip snapping, hip adduction and flexion angles and Harris Hip Scores(HHS). Results: There was no difference in age, gender, body mass index (BMI) and average operation time among different release plane groups (p>0.05). In terms of surgical success rate, the release plane group 4cm (98.33%)> 6cm (96.67%)> 2cm (95.00%)> 0cm (91.67%)> 8cm (8.33%)>-2cm (5.00%) (p<0.05). Although the hip adduction and flexion angles were improved in each group after operation (p<0.05), the improvement in the release plane -2cm and 8cm groups was significantly lower than that in the other four release plane groups (p<0.05). In addition, at 12 months of follow-up, all patients had significantly improved adduction and flexion angles and HHS (p<0.05). Conclusions: The arthroscopic release plane for ESH can affects the surgical effect, and the optimal arthroscopic release plane is 0-6 cm .