Dynamic radiostereometric analysis for evaluation of hip joint pathomechanics

BACKGROUND: Dynamic RSA (dRSA) enables non-invasive 3D motion-tracking of bones and may be used to evaluate in-vivo hip joint kinematics including hip pathomechanics such as femoroacetabular impingement (FAI) and the biomechanical effects of arthroscopic cheilectomy and -rim trimming (ACH). The study aim was to evaluate the kinematic changes in the hip joint after ACH. METHODS: Seven non-FAI affected human cadaveric hips were CT-scanned and CT-bone models were created. dRSA recordings of the hip joints were acquired at five frames/s during passive flexion, adduction to stop, and internal rotation to stop (FADIR). ACH was performed and dRSA was repeated. dRSA images were analyzed using model-based RSA. Hip joint kinematics before and after ACH were compared pairwise. The volume of removed bone was quantified and compared to the postoperative range of motion (ROM). RESULTS: Mean hip internal rotation increased from 19.1 to 21.9° (p = 0.04, Δ2.8°, SD 2.7) after ACH surgery. Mean adduction of 3.9° before and 2.7° after ACH surgery was unchanged (p = 0.48, Δ-1.2°; SD 4.3). Mean flexion angles during dRSA tests were 82.4° before and 80.8° after ACH surgery, which were similar (p = 0.18, Δ-1.6°, SD = 2.7). No correlation between volume of removed bone and ROM was observed. CONCLUSIONS: A small increase in internal rotation, but not in adduction, was observed after arthroscopic cheilectomy and -rim trimming in cadaver hips. The hip flexion angle of the FADIR test was reproducible. dRSA kinematic analysis is a new and clinically applicable method with good potential to evaluate hip joint kinematics and to test FAI pathomechanics and other surgical corrections of the hip.