CURRENT CONCEPTS OF DIAGNOSTICS AND TREATMENT OF IMPINGEMENTSYNDROME OF THE HIP – OUR FIRST EXPERIENCES OF ARTHROSCOPICTREATMENT

Abstract

BACKGROUND Impingement syndrome of the hip is a pre-arthrotic condition, caused by irregular anatomicrelations between the femoral head-neck transition zone and the acetabulum. It isoften overlooked cause of limited range of hip joint motion and of groin pain especially insport active young males and middle age females. Treatment is surgical, by open or morerecently by arthroscopic technique.Patients and 13 patients (10 male, 3 female) have been treated for hip impingement on Orthopedicmethods Clinic in Ljubljana in the period between May 2006 and September 2007. RESULTS In 12 arthroscopic treated patients, range of flexion and internal rotation of the operatedhip significantly improved immediately after the procedure. They all reported progressivereduction of pain in the operated joint. One patient with preoperative radiological signs ofdegeneration of the affected hip complained of subjective worsening after the procedurefollowed by progressive arthrosis of the hip. Two complications were noted: temporaryabsence of ejaculation and haematoma of the external genitals. CONCLUSIONS Our short-term results demonstrate that arthroscopic treatment of the impingement syndromeof the hip is a safe and reliable method. We do not recommend it in older persons withradiological signs of degeneration of the hip, especially with signs of joint narrowing