Published in:
01-05-2013 | Clinical Research
A Positive Hip Arthrogram May Predict Lower Function in Patients with Primary Hip Arthroplasty
Published in: Clinical Orthopaedics and Related Research® | Issue 5/2013
Login to get accessAbstract
Background
A local anesthetic hip arthrogram is a simple test mainly used as an adjunct to define the origin of hip pain. Temporary pain relief (a positive response) following an injection may lead to a surgeon recommending hip surgery. However, it is unclear whether relief of pain corresponds to better postoperative pain relief or function.
Questions/purposes
We therefore compared the function in patients with a positive response to a local anesthetic hip arthrogram who underwent primary THA and patients with typical osteoarthritis presentation who underwent primary THA without a preoperative arthrogram.
Methods
We retrospectively reviewed 22 patients who had a positive response to a local anesthetic hip arthrogram who subsequently underwent primary hip arthroplasty and a control group of 74 patients who had typical osteoarthritis hip pain and subsequent primary hip arthroplasty without having a previous arthrogram. All patients completed the Oxford Hip Score, WOMAC™ function short form, and the SF-12 preoperatively and at regular clinical followups. The minimum followups were 28 months (mean, 42 months; range, 28–72 months) for the study group and 33 months (mean, 52 months; range, 33–73 months) for the control group.
Results
Patients in the arthrogram group had lower mean functional scores: 30 versus 39 for the Oxford Hip Score, 39 versus 46 for the WOMAC™, and 36 versus 42 for the physical component of the SF-12.
Conclusions
Preoperative use of a local anesthetic hip arthrogram remains an important tool to differentiate spinal disorders or confirm the hip as the cause of pain. However, patients who have a preoperative hip arthrogram to clarify symptoms may report a lower function score and pain relief than patients who do not.
Level of Evidence
Level III, therapeutic study. See Guidelines for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.