Background: Recent biomechanical reports have described the function of the acetabular labrum and iliofemoral ligament in providing hip stability, but the relative stability provided by each structure has not been well described.

It has been reported that relative to other sports participants, ice hockey players suffer from cam-type femoroacetabular impingement (FAI) in higher numbers. α angles have been reported to increase with the likelihood of symptomatic FAI. It is unclear how prevalent increased α angles, commonly associated with cam FAI, are in asymptomatic young ice hockey players. There would be a higher prevalence of α angles associated with cam FAI in youth ice hockey players than in a non–hockey-playing (skier) youth control group. Cohort study; Level of evidence, 3. A total of 61 asymptomatic youth ice hockey players (aged 10-18 years) and 27 youth skiers (controls) (aged 10-18 years) underwent a clinical hip examination consisting of the flexion/abduction/external rotation (FABER) distance test, impingement testing, and measurement of hip internal rotation. The hip α angle was measured by magnetic resonance imaging, and labral tears and articular cartilage lesions were documented. Hockey players were grouped according to their USA Hockey classification as peewees (ages 10-12 years), bantams (ages 13-15 years), and midgets (ages 16-19 years). Overall, ice hockey players had significantly higher α angles than did the control group, and hockey players had a significant correlation between increased age and increased α angles, while the control group did not. In the ice hockey group, 75% had an α angle of ≥55°, while in the skier group, 42% had an α angle of ≥55° (P < .006). Hockey players were 4.5 times more likely to have an α angle commonly associated with cam impingement than skiers. Midget players had the highest risk of increased α angles. Even at young ages, ice hockey players have a greater prevalence of α angles associated with cam FAI than do skier-matched controls. Properties inherent to ice hockey likely enhance the development of a bony overgrowth on the femoral neck, leading to cam FAI.

All patients considering joint-preserving hip arthroscopy should be educated on the risk of THA after arthroscopy. The degree of radiographic osteoarthritis predicts subsequent THA. To provide patients with the best information, the best radiographic measure that predicts THA after hip arthroscopy should be identified. We therefore determined if Tönnis grade, Kellgren-Lawrence grade, or joint space narrowing was superior in predicting THA after hip arthroscopy. We retrospectively reviewed 203 patients 50 years of age or older treated with hip arthroscopy between March 2007 and October 2010. Of these, 96 patients met the study inclusion criteria. Sixty-five did not undergo THAs during the followup time (non-THA group) and 31 patients did (THA group). We determined Tönnis grade, Kellgren-Lawrence grade, and/or joint space narrowing before arthroscopy. The median followup for the non-THA group was 54 months (95% confidence interval, 49.9–58.9 months). In 81% of the patients, joint space accurately predicted THA or non-THA, whereas Kellgren-Lawrence was accurate in 73% and Tönnis grade was accurate in 65%. On binary logistic regression, the only predictor (r² = 0.45) of THA was joint space of 2 mm or less. Measuring joint space by determining if any measurement is 2 mm or less predicts patients progressing to THA after hip arthroscopy approximately 80% of the time. At this early time point, joint space measurements were the most accurate predictor of THA and should be used in patient education to define the risk of early failure from hip arthroscopy. Level III, prognostic study. See Guidelines for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.

Background: The prevalence of abnormal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings in an asymptomatic population has yet to be determined. Purpose: The purpose of this study was to assess a cohort of asymptomatic people to determine the prevalence of hip lesions. Study Design: Cross-sectional study; Level of evidence, 3. Methods: Forty-five volunteers with no history of hip pain, symptoms, injury, or surgery were recruited for enrollment in this institutional review board–approved study. The subjects underwent a unilateral MRI scan with a Siemens 3.0-tesla scanner. The extremity side evaluated by MRI was alternated. All MRI scans were reviewed by 3 fellowship-trained musculoskeletal radiologists. The scans were mixed randomly with 19 scans from symptomatic patients to blind the radiologists to the possibility of patient symptoms. An abnormal finding was considered positive when 2 of 3 radiologists agreed on its presence. Results: The average age of volunteers was 37.8 years (range, 15-66 y); 60% were men. Labral tears were identified in 69% of hips, chondral defects in 24%, ligamentum teres tears in 2.2%, labral/paralabral cysts in 13%, acetabular bone edema in 11%, fibrocystic changes of the head/neck junction in 22%, rim fractures in 11%, subchondral cysts in 16%, and osseous bumps in 20%. Participants older than 35 years were 13.7 times (95% CI, 2.4-80 times) more likely to have a chondral defect and 16.7 times (95% CI, 1.8-158 times) more likely to have a subchondral cyst compared with participants 35 or younger. No other joint lesions were associated with age. Male subjects were 8.5 times (95% CI, 1.2-56 times) more likely to have an osseous bump than female subjects. No other joint lesions were associated with sex. Conclusion: Magnetic resonance images of asymptomatic participants revealed abnormalities in 73% of hips, with labral tears being identified in 69% of the joints. A strong correlation was seen between participant age and early markers of cartilage degeneration such as cartilage defects and subchondral cysts.

Background: Femoroacetabular impingement (FAI) has been well characterized as a cause of hip pain and resultant damage to the acetabular labrum. It has become increasingly clear that an intact labrum is essential for normal joint mechanics, hip stability, and preservation of the articular cartilage. Elite athletes with a hypoplastic or irreparable labrum present a difficult clinical challenge. Purpose: To assess clinical outcomes and determine if elite athletes are able to return to a high level of function and sport after labral reconstruction. Study Design: Case series; Level of evidence, 4. Methods: A retrospective review of a prospectively collected registry identified 21 elite athletes (23 hips) with an average age of 28.0 years (range, 19-41 years) who underwent an arthroscopic iliotibial band labral reconstruction. Concomitant procedures included femoral and acetabular osteoplasty in all patients and microfracture in 9 of 23 hips. Clinical outcomes were assessed with the modified Harris Hip Score (MHHS), the Hip Outcome Score (HOS), the Short Form–12 (SF-12), and patient satisfaction (on a scale from 1-10). Return to play was determined, as well as level of return to play, based on sport-specific statistics. Results: Two patients progressed to arthroplasty. There were 2 revisions in this group of patients, both for lysis of capsulolabral adhesions in which the graft was found to be well integrated at the time of surgery. The rate of return to play was 85.7% (18/21), with 81% (17/21) returning to a similar level. Subjective follow-up was obtained from 17 of the remaining 19 patients (89%), with an average follow-up of 41.4 months (range, 20-74 months). The average MHHS improved from 67 to 84 ( P = .026) and the average HOS Sport subscore from 56 to 77 ( P = .009). The overall median patient satisfaction with outcome was 8.2 (range, 3-10). Conclusion: Arthroscopic labral reconstruction using an ipsilateral iliotibial band autograft provides good short-term clinical outcomes, high patient satisfaction, and a satisfactory level of return to play in a select group of elite athletes.