Hip instability treated with arthroscopic capsular plication.

PURPOSE: Atraumatic microinstability of the hip is felt to be a cause of intra-articular pathology, particularly tears of the anterior labrum. The purpose of this study is to evaluate a consecutive series of patients with atraumatic hip microinstability that resulted in anterior labral and cartilage pathology, treated with hip arthroscopy and capsular plication without any associated bony procedures.

METHODS: Thirty-two patients underwent hip arthroscopy and suture capsular plication for the treatment of hip instability without concomitant bony resections of the acetabulum or proximal femur between November 2009 and November 2012 and were followed for a minimum of 12 months. Patients were clinically evaluated preoperatively and again at 3, 6, 12, 24, and 36 months postoperatively with the modified Harris hip score (mHHS) and iHOT score in some patients (as this was introduced late in the study). Comparison was made evaluating centre-edge angle, Tönnis angle, physical examination findings, and demographics on outcome.

RESULTS: There was significant improvement in the mean mHHS from 67 (SD = 8.7) to 97 (SD = 4.7) and iHOT score from 41 (SD = 18.3) to 85 (SD = 10.1) at final follow-up. When comparing patients with mild hip dysplasia to patients without hip dysplasia, there was no significant difference in clinical outcome at any point in follow-up. There was no significant association between patient age, duration of preoperative symptoms, previous ipsilateral hip arthroscopy, nature of onset of symptoms, centre-edge angle, Tönnis angle, or preoperative physical examination findings with clinical outcome at final follow-up.

CONCLUSION: Isolated arthroscopic suture capsular plication performed for the treatment of hip instability resulted in improved patient pain and function at a minimum of 1-year follow-up.