The use of pelvic radiographs as a predictor for gluteal tendinopathy and bursitis

Aim: To evaluate the relationship between radiographic measurements of the hip and sonographic evidence of gluteal tendinopathy and bursitis in patients with lateral hip pain. Methods and materials: Patients with lateral hip pain referred for ultrasound of the hip in our institution over a 5-year period were identified. Findings of gluteal tendinopathy and subgluteal or trochanteric bursitis on ultrasound were recorded. Radiographs of the hip were also evaluated and femoral offset (FO), global offset (GO), abductor lever arm (ALA) and trochanteric impingement distance (TID) were recorded. The mean of each measurement was compared between patients with gluteal tendinopathy and subgluteal or trochanteric bursitis. Results: 273 patients were included in the study. 107 patients (39.2%) had a THA. In the asymptomatic hip, a range of normal measurements were obtained: FO 22.4–76.5 mm, GO 40.1–116.1 mm, ALA 45.0–98.4 mm and TID 13.8–63.1 mm. In the native hip and post THA, there was no statistically significant relationship between FO, GO, ALA and TID in patients with gluteal tendinopathy or trochanteric or subgluteal bursitis. Conclusions: Lateral hip pain is a common presenting complaint in patients with hip pain and is reported in a small proportion of patients post THA. No statistically significant relationship was found between radiographic measurements and ultrasound findings in our patient cohort. However, we describe the range of measurements obtained from the normal asymptomatic hip in this large cohort of patients, which may aid in the evaluation and management of patients with lateral hip pain.

Greater Trochanteric Fixation Using a Cable System for Partial Hip Arthroplasty: A Clinical and Finite Element Analysis

The aim of the study was to investigate the efficacy of greater trochanteric fixation using a multifilament cable to ensure abductor lever arm continuity in patients with a proximal femoral fracture undergoing partial hip arthroplasty. Mean age of the patients (12 men, 20 women) was 84.12 years. Mean follow-up was 13.06 months. Fixation of the dislocated greater trochanter with or without a cable following load application was assessed by finite element analysis (FEA). Radiological evaluation was based on the distance between the fracture and the union site. Harris hip score was used to evaluate final results: outcomes were excellent in 7 patients (21.8%), good in 17 patients (53.1%), average in 5 patients (15.6%), and poor in 1 patient (9.3%). Mean abduction angle was 20.21°. Union was achieved in 14 patients (43.7%), fibrous union in 12 (37.5%), and no union in 6 (18.7%). FEA showed that the maximum total displacement of the greater trochanter decreased when the fractured bone was fixed with a cable. As the force applied to the cable increased, the displacement of the fractured trochanter decreased. This technique ensures continuity of the abductor lever arm in patients with a proximal femoral fracture who are undergoing partial hip arthroplasty surgery.