Arthroscopic internal fixation of osteochondritis dissecans of the femoral head.

Osteochondritis dessicans of the femoral head is an uncommon problem. Limited literature reports the incidence of osteochondritis dessicans and its treatment. The surgical technique used and outcomes for a 40-year-old man with symptomatic femoral head osteochonditis dissecans who was treated 11 years previously with retrograde drilling and hip arthroscopy are discussed.Despite temporary symptomatic improvement without subchondral collapse after his index procedure, increasing pain a decade later was thought to be caused by a large apical osteochondritic fragment and chondrolabral dysfunction from femoroacetabular impingement. Acetabuloplasty of acetabular overcoverage permitted arthroscopic internal fixation of the bone fragment by improving screw trajectory. Labral refixation and femoroplasty were subsequently performed. At 18-month follow-up, his nonarthritic hip score improved from 53 to 76 and his osteochondritic lesion had healed radiographically.Although clinical improvement with radiographic union has been reported following open screw fixation of femoral head osteochondritis dissecans, to the authors' knowledge this is the first published case with a similar outcome using arthroscopic techniques. Clinical improvement and union of even long-standing osteochondritis dissecans of the femoral head may occur with arthroscopic fragment fixation. Hip arthroscopy may play significant therapeutic and diagnostic roles in the treatment of this condition while offering a less invasive alternative to open osteosynthesis.