Prone Apprehension Relocation Test significantly correlates with radiological instability scores of the hip

Abstract

Recently, there was a debate about whether borderline dysplastic hips should be treated surgically with hip arthroscopy or periacetabular osteotomy (PAO). Current studies recommend a classification into stable and unstable hips. Therefore, radiological scores have been described in recent years. Likewise, a new clinical stability test with the Prone Apprehension Relocation Test (PART) has been described. However, there has been no correlation between the modern radiological scores and the PART. We prospectively studied a consecutive group of patients who presented to our clinic. The PART and radiological scores were assessed in these patients. We divided the patients into a PART-positive and a PART-negative group and analyzed the associated clinical and radiological findings. Out of 126 patients (126 hips) included, 36 hips (29%) were evaluated as PART positive. There were significantly more females in the PART positive group (P = 0.005). Comparing the PART groups, significant differences (P < 0.0001) were found for the lateral center edge angle (LCEA), Femoro-Epiphyseal Acetabular Roof (FEAR) index, Gothic arch angle (GAA), anterior wall index (AWI), the occurrence of the upsloping lateral sourcil (ULS) and signs of acetabular retroversion. The correlation analysis showed an association between LCEA, FEAR index, GAA, AWI, ULS and the PART. A chi-square automatic interaction detection algorithm revealed that the strongest predictor of positive PART was the GAA. In conclusion, a high correlation between the PART and known radiological instability parameters was found. Consequently, a combination of clinical instability testing and radiological instability parameters should be applied to detect unstable hips.