BACKGROUND

Patients with femoroacetabular impingement (FAI) are likely to present with borderline developmental dysplasia of the hip (BDDH). Considering the prolonged risk of negative prognosis in these patients, the need for surgical management of the capsule has been emphasized. Although previous studies have advocated different techniques of capsular closure during surgery, no consensus has been achieved. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical outcomes of a new arthroscopic capsular suture-lifting technique for the treatment of FAI combined with BDDH.

HYPOTHESIS

The arthroscopic capsular suture-lifting technique would achieve better anterior stability and show better clinical outcomes compared with routine capsular closure.

STUDY DESIGN

Cohort study; Level of evidence, 3.

METHODS

Consecutive patients diagnosed with FAI and BDDH and who underwent hip arthroscopy in our hospital between September 1, 2017, and April 30, 2021, were evaluated. Data were collected prospectively and analyzed retrospectively. Patients were divided into 2 groups according to the capsule closure methods used: capsular suture-lifting technique (lifting group) and routine capsular closure (control group). Anteroposterior hip radiography, Dunn view radiography, and computed tomography imaging were carried out for all patients preoperatively and postoperatively. Patient-reported outcomes, including the modified Harris Hip Score (mHHS) and visual analog scale (VAS) for pain, were collected preoperatively and at least 1 year after surgery and compared between the 2 groups. The Wilcoxon signed-rank test was used to evaluate changes in preoperative to postoperative mHHS scores and VAS. Mann-Whitney test was used to evaluate significant differences in postoperative mHHS and VAS scores in the 2 groups.

RESULTS

In all, 144 patients were included in this study, of whom 77 (53.5%) underwent the arthroscopic capsular suture-lifting technique and 67 (46.5%) underwent routine arthroscopic surgery. The patients in both groups had significant improvement in postoperative mHHS and VAS compared with the preoperative assessment ( < .05). The postoperative VAS score of patients in the suture-lifting group was significantly lower (2.6 vs 3.8;  < .05) and the mHHS score was significantly higher (75.2 vs 68.5;  < .05) than those of patients in the control group. Of the 77 patients in the suture-lifting group, 68 (88.3%) surpassed the minimal clinically important difference (MCID) and 49 (63.6%) achieved the Patient Acceptable Symptom State (PASS). Of the 67 patients in the control group, 26 (38.8%) surpassed MCID and 32 (47.8%) achieved PASS. The percentage of patients achieving MCID and PASS in the suture-lifting group was significantly greater than that in the control group ( = .007 for MCID;  = .03 for PASS).

CONCLUSION

The study demonstrated that the arthroscopic capsular suture-lifting technique provided good clinical outcomes in the treatment of patients with FAI combined with BDDH. This technique showed better improvement of postoperative clinical outcomes than routine capsular closure.