Patient-Specific 3-Dimensional Modeling and Its Use for Preoperative Counseling of Patients Undergoing Hip Arthroscopy

Abstract

Background: Femoroacetabular impingement (FAI) represents complex alterations in the bony morphology of the proximal femur and acetabulum. Imaging studies have become crucial in diagnosis and treatment planning for symptomatic FAI but also have limited patient understanding and satisfaction. Exploration of alternative patient counseling modalities holds promise for improved patient understanding, satisfaction, and ultimately for outcomes. Purpose: To compare perceived understanding of functional anatomy and FAI pathomorphology among patients counseled with routine computed tomography (CT), generic hip models, and a 3-dimensional (3D) model printed in accordance with a patient’s specific anatomy. Study Design: Cohort study; Level of evidence, 2. Methods: A prospective randomized analysis of patients presenting with radiographically confirmed FAI was conducted between November 2015 and April 2017. Patients were randomized into groups that received preoperative counseling with CT imaging alone, a generic human hip model, or a haptic 3D model of their hip. All groups were subjected to a novel questionnaire examining patient satisfaction and understanding on a variety of topics related to FAI. Data were compared with bivariate and multivariate analyses. Statistical significance was determined as P