Hip arthroscopy for lateral cam morphology: how important are the vessels?

The purpose of this narrative review is to identify the anatomy and relevant blood supply to the femoral head as it pertains to hip arthroscopy and lateral cam morphology. The primary blood supply to the femoral head is the lateral ascending superior retinacular vessels, which are terminal branches of the medial femoral circumflex artery. These vessels penetrate the femoral head at the posterolateral head–neck junction. Surgeons performing posterolateral femoral osteoplasty must respect this vasculature to avoid iatrogenic avascular necrosis (AVN). Avoidance of excessive traction, avoidance of distal posterolateral capsulotomy and avoidance of disruption of the superior retinacular vessels should keep the risk for AVN low. Hip extension, internal rotation and distraction are useful in hip arthroscopy to better visualize lateral/posterolateral cam morphology to facilitate an accurate comprehensive cam correction and avoid vascular disruption.

Access to the Ischium: A Simple Extension of the Posterior Approach in Revision Hip Arthroplasty

Reconstruction of acetabular defects in revision total hip arthroplasty (THA) requires excellent exposure. Most extensile approaches to the acetabulum were described in the trauma literature and are not beneficial for revision THA. This article describes a modification of the standard posterior surgical approach to improve visualization of the ischium as required for acetabular defect reconstruction, insertion of standard and custom triflange cages as well as posterior column plating. The current surgical technique utilizes an intermuscular plane between the gemellus inferior muscle and the obturator externus muscle. This intermuscular plane leads the surgeon directly to the ischium and facilitates easy extension toward the insertion of the hamstring muscles without compromising the insertion of the external rotator muscles along the ischium. This article describes a novel surgical approach to the posterior column and ischium under special consideration of the sciatic nerve, superior gluteal vessels, and medial femoral circumflex artery. This simple extension of the standard posterior approach optimizes exposure of the posterior column during revision THA using a posterior approach.

Osteonecrosis of Femoral Head Occurred after Stent Placement of Femoral Artery

We present a case of osteonecrosis of femoral head (ONFH) that occurred after stent angiography of femoral artery for the treatment of arteriosclerosis obliterans (ASO) of left inferior limb in a 76-year-old woman. No case of late collapse of femoral head as a complication of endovascular procedure such as stent placement has been previously documented. We considered that ONFH occurred after detaining stent at a junction of left deep femoral artery for the treatment of the ischemia of left lateral and medial femoral circumflex artery.