Can Radiographic Joint Space Accurately Predict Chondral Damage During Hip Arthroscopy? A Cross-Sectional Analysis
Authors
Rosinsky PJ, Chen JW, Lall AC, Wojnowski NM, Shapira J, Maldonado DR, Domb BG
DOI: 10.1016/j.arthro.2020.01.034
Background
Radiographic joint space is often used to assess joint health in hip arthroscopy patients, but its effectiveness in predicting chondral (cartilage) damage is unclear. This study investigates the correlation between joint space measurements and intraoperative cartilage damage.
Methods
The study analyzed 1,892 patients under 50 years old who underwent hip arthroscopy. The team compared joint space measurements with the presence of cartilage damage during surgery, using radiographs and clinical data.
Key Findings
Joint space did not reliably predict cartilage damage. There was no significant correlation between narrower joint space and the severity of chondral damage. A slight narrowing of the lateral joint space could indicate acetabular cartilage damage, but overall, joint space was not a good predictor.
Conclusions
Narrower joint space in patients with early-stage arthritis (Tönnis grade 0-1) may just be an anatomic variation and does not reliably predict cartilage damage in hip arthroscopy.
What Does This Mean for Patients
If you have a narrow joint space on your hip X-rays, it doesn’t necessarily mean you have cartilage damage. Other factors may need to be considered when diagnosing hip conditions.