Hip morphology influences the pattern of articular cartilage damage

The aim of this study was to obtain data on chondral damage and compare the damage patterns of various hip disorders.

Data were collected at 100 consecutive arthroscopies, and chondral lesions were recorded on anatomic articular maps divided into different anatomical zones. This geographic zone method made it possible to analyze the ICRS grade and location in relation to the hip morphology.

The distribution and degree of the chondral defects showed a hip morphology-specific pattern. On the acetabular side, there were high incidences of full-thickness defects in the anterior–superior zone and the middle superior zone in patients with femoroacetabular impingement (FAI) (zone 2: 25.4 % grade 3, 35.5 % grade 4; zone 3: 20.3 % grade 3, 37.2 % grade 4) and borderline dysplasia (zone 2: 31.2 % grade 3, 12.5 % grade 4; zone 3: 18.7 % grade 3, 25 % grade 4). However, in patients with joint laxity, partial-thickness defects were dominant (zone 2: 50 % grade 1, 15 % grade 2; zone 3: 40 % grade 1). In patients with acetabular dysplasia, full-thickness defects extended even to the posterior superior zone (zone 4: 80 % grade 4). On the femoral head side, the incidence of full-thickness cartilage injuries was high in patients with FAI and borderline dysplasia compared to those with joint laxity and acetabular dysplasia.

Evaluation of chondral damage using the geographic zone method showed that the pattern of cartilage damage was influenced by hip morphology. Understanding of hip disorder-specific chondral damage patterns may be useful for the development of arthroscopic classification of hip disorders and may lead to the establishment of treatment guidelines.

Diagnostic study, Level III.