Surgical hip dislocation for treatment of synovial chondromatosis of the hip

Purpose: In the present study, we aimed to evaluate the clinical outcomes of surgical hip dislocation in patients with synovial chondromatosis (SC) of the hip.

Methods: Seven patients with primary SC of the hip treated with open synovectomy and removal of loose bodies by surgical hip dislocation from 2016 to 2019 were retrospectively reviewed. All patients had numerous and widespread loose bodies based on pre-operative images, including routine radiographs, CT, and MRI. The visual analog scale (VAS) score and Harris hip score (HHS) were collected and analyzed before and after surgery. The post-operative radiographs were reviewed to evaluate disease recurrence and osteoarthritis progression.

Results: The mean operative time was 61 minutes (range, 42-75 min). An average of 33 loose bodies in each patient (range, 16-67) was removed, and extra-articular pathology was found in one patient. Patients were followed up for a mean duration of 30 months (range, 18-42 months). The average VAS scores were decreased from 3.7 (range, 2-6) pre-operatively to 0.9 (range, 0-2) at the last follow-up, and the HHS was improved from 60.1 (range, 50-73) to 90.1 (range, 82-95). All results demonstrated significant improvements (P < 0.05). Post-operative radiographs showed no recurrence, osteoarthritis progression, or osteonecrosis of the femoral head in all hips.

Conclusions: Surgical hip dislocation was a practical approach for managing both intra-articular and extra-articular pathologic lesions around the hip. It was an effective treatment for SC of the hip with short surgical time, good joint functions, a lower recurrence rate, and few complications.