Gluteal Tendon Pathology in Patients Undergoing Primary Total Hip Arthroplasty: A MRI-Based Analysis of Prevalence...

To determine the prevalence of gluteal tendon pathology among patients with osteoarthritis (OA) undergoing total hip arthroplasty (THA) and to examine potential effects on postoperative outcomes.

Patients who underwent direct anterior THA for OA between 2010 and 2022 were identified using an institutional total Mayo Clinic Joint Replacement Database. Those with MRI of the surgical hip obtained ≤1 year before surgery were included and categorized according to the presence of gluteal tendon tear, tendinopathy, or no pathology. Postoperative outcomes were evaluated using visual analog scale (VAS) at rest, VAS with use, Hip Disability and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score Pain, Forgotten Joint Score-12, and modified Harris Hip score.

Twenty-three hips with gluteal tears (9 of 23 male, mean age 63.5 ± 29.3 years), 48 with tendinopathy (20 of 48 male, mean age 58.8 ± 10.4 years), and 8 with no pathology on MRI (6 of 8 male, mean age 42.4 ± 18.9 years) were followed for 4.9 ± 3.0 years (range 1.2 to 13.2 years) following THA. Among patients with gluteal tear or tendinopathy, preoperative MRI was done for suspected gluteal pathology in only 3 (13.0%) and 2 (4.2%) cases, respectively, with most cases noted incidentally. Nevertheless, all experienced notable improvement in pain, satisfaction, and functional outcomes following surgery according to modified Harris Hip score score ( P ≤ 0.001 for all), and no differences were observed in VAS at rest, VAS with use, Hip Disability and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score Pain, or Forgotten Joint Score-12 between the groups ( P > 0.050 for all). Of note, no patient exhibited full-thickness preoperative gluteal tendon tearing with retraction on imaging.

Gluteal tears or tendinopathy was detected in 89.9% of patients undergoing direct anterior THA for OA. Despite no intraoperative repair, postoperative improvements in pain and function were similar to those of patients with no gluteal pathology. These findings suggest that although gluteal pathology may be common among patients undergoing THA, patients with partial thickness gluteal tears or tendinopathy generally do well following surgery.