The role of arthroscopic thermal capsulorrhaphy in the hip

Arthroscopic thermal modification of collagen in the hip capsular tissue appears to be a treatment option for patients with hip instability. Traumatic hip instability is associated with frank dislocation or a subluxation, and labral tears. Atraumatic hip instability is associated with evidence of generalized ligament laxity. It can be associated with bone-collagen type disorders, including Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, Down syndrome, arthrochalasis multiplex congenita, developmental dysplastic hip, and idiopathic type. As previously discussed by Bellabarba et al, capsular laxity may be the underlying cause of dynamic hip instability. The capsule is a fibrous, thick, and strong structure that encircles the proximal femur and the acetabulum. The capsule is thicker anteriorly than posteriorly, and consists of two sets of fibers, circular and longitudinal. The capsule ligaments play a very important role in hip stability. The hip joint capsule is reinforced by the iliofemoral, pubofemoral, and ischiofemoral ligaments. It remains sensitive to stretch and serves as a mechanism for muscular feedback and pain. The iliofemoral ligament limits hyperextension and lateral rotation of the hip joint and is taut in full extension. Full extension of the hip exposes the capsule and ligaments to a twisting and shortening effect that forces the head onto the acetabulum. We are currently studying the effect of iliofemoral ligament deficiency and its relationship to instability. Many of the properties of synovial lubrication depend on contact with articular surfaces, and incongruency due to instability may have some functional role in distribution of synovial fluid, leading to stresses from weightbearing and eventually to rapid deterioration of the articular surfaces. The high-level athletes in this series include two professional baseball players, three professional golfers (PGA), one professional football player (NFL), one figure skater (Olympic gold medalist), one gymnast (Olympic level, bilateral hips), and one ballet dancer; they returned to their pre-injury level of activity. The other patients returned to their pre-injury functional lifestyle. Hip instability appears to present consistently with stable gait abnormalities and painful sensation of instability. Recognizing the various patterns of hip instability is complicated, and therefore management and outcome of these disorders are quite variable. Bellabarba et al concluded that physical therapy alone had been unsuccessful and that temporary success of a posterior capsular "plication" in one patient showed promise. Arthroscopic thermal modification of collagen in the hip capsular tissue appears to be a treatment option for patients with hip instability. The hip joint capsule is predominantly type 1 collagen, and the mechanism of tissue shrinkage through type 1 collagen alteration is well documented in the literature. Short-term results appear promising, however, more studies are required to determine the long-term efficacy of this procedure in the treatment of this challenging disorder.