Editorial Commentary: Restoration of Hip Capsular Tension Is More Important Than Repair Construct Configuration
Abstract
The debate regarding optimal capsular management during hip arthroscopy has been evolving for over 20 years. Femoroacetabular impingement emerged in the arthroscopic world in the early 2000s. However, the ability to address osseous deformities and decompress and/or reshape them was limited by the hip capsular structures and small capsulotomies. Some surgeons attempted to arthroscopically manage these deformities with limited capsulotomies, with not surprisingly limited success. Others made larger capsular windows (capsulectomies) to more accurately manage these deformities but potentially left some patients with varying degrees of iatrogenic microinstability or macroinstability. Over time, an increasing awareness of post-arthroscopy instability in the form of case reports, case series, and backroom chatter among the hip arthroscopy thought leaders brought the idea of routine capsular closure to the forefront. Biomechanical studies defined the role of the hip capsular ligaments, the deficits created with various capsulotomies during surgery, and the ability to restore stability after capsular repair. Clinical studies revealed better outcomes and lower revision rates after capsular repair for subtle osseous and soft-tissue instability, revision cases, and athletes compared with unrepaired capsulotomies. Various capsular repair constructs (side-to-side repairs, capsular shifts, and various suture configurations and suture materials) have been proposed, without evidence to…
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Evidence Hub reads this as a case series, done in people. Its evidence level is 5 of 5 (Very low · case / narrative / animal / in vitro / in silico). Case reports, narrative reviews, and animal, cell or computer-model studies give the weakest evidence for human health.
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