Radiologic and Clinical Findings of Anterior Femoroacetabular Impingement in Early Osteoarthritis of the Hip

Hwang, Deuk Soo; Rhee, Kwang Jin; Kwon, Soon Tae; Kim, Kyung Cheon; Lee, Chang Hwan; Yang, Jae Hoon

Abstract

PURPOSE
A patient diagnosed with early osteoarthritis due to hip pain who went through arthroscopic treatment were studied in the radiologic aspect and clinical aspect of anterior femoroacetabular impingement (FAI). MATERIALS AND METHODS: The subjects were 43 early osteoarthritis patients from May 1995 to May 2003 who underwent arthroscopic treatment and were able to be followed for at least 1 year. These patients were divided into two groups, the first group with patients who had no osteoarthritis on simple radiograph but with degenerative changes of the labrum and cartilage on MR arthorgram and arthroscopy, and the second group with osteoarthirtic findings on simple radiograph. Both groups were checked to see if they showed signs of anterior FAI at the acetabulum and proximal femur on radiograph and MR arthrogram. Improvement after surgery was evaluated using the JOA (Japanese Orthopaedic Association) pain score. RESULTS: About FAI, 6 patients (29%) out of 21 in group 1 showed radiologic evidence of FAI, while 12 of out 22 (56%) had it in group 2, with a total of 18 patients (42%). The pain score of pre/post operation were improved in group 1 which showed evidence of FAI and while the score of group 2 were improved from 0.83 to 1.83 and 0.92 to 1.67 in group 2. And the pain score of the group 1 which showed no evidence of FAI were improved from 0.73 to 2.60 and the score of group 2 were improved from 0.60 to 2.10. As a result, there was small improvement in pain scores of patient group with FAI. CONCLUSION: Among the patients who were diagnosed with early primary osteoarthritis of th hip, we could find anterior femoroacetabular impingement in the radiogram in some cases and the patients with FAI have low pain relief. Therefore we can expect more improved clinical result with inspection of the anterior FAI.