Clinical outcome following a modified approach for psoas lengthening for coxa saltans in adults

Internal snapping often resolves with conservative treatment but persistent significant symptoms may require surgical treatment. Different surgical approaches have been suggested in the literature with varying results. We describe a modified surgical approach for internal snapping of hip in adults with good results. Patients who failed conservative treatment for internal snapping over 11/2 years were included. A skin crease incision was made just lateral to the ASIS in supine position. The psoas tendon was reached sub-periosteally along the internal iliac surface and a hole was made in periosteum. Then the tendon was hooked into the wound and divided releasing its musculotendinous junction. The patients were allowed to mobilise as able in the postoperative period. There were 8 snapping hips (7 patients, 6 females) with average age of 30 years (17-51 yrs). The mean follow-up was 11 months. The average duration of symptoms before operation was 4.5 years (range 2-10 years). Painful symptomatic clicking was relieved in all patients. Two patients felt slight weakness of hip flexion. One patient had temporary neuropraxia of lateral cutaneous nerve of thigh. The diagnosis is made by ultrasound or examination for a palpable click. Surgical correction of snapping is considered after failure of conservative treatment. Different extrapelvic (medial and iliofemoral) and intrapelvic extraperitoneal approaches have been described with varying results. With our slightly modified intrapelvic and subperiosteal approach through oblique inguinal incision in adults, psoas muscle release at musculotendinous junction seems a safe and effective method and could be used as an alternative surgical approach for treatment of internal snapping of hip in adults.