Paper # 127: Sex-Specific Hip Morphology in Young Adults with Hip Pain and Labral Tears

Abstract

Abstract Background and Objective Hip impingement with labral tears is an accepted diagnosis in young adults with insidious non-arthritic hip pain. To date, gender-specific morphological data in these patients is lacking. Our objective was to compare males and females hip morphology in this population of athletic individuals. Methods Our hip arthroscopy registry from March 2008 to April 2010 was reviewed. Inclusion criteria were: age 18-30, insidious pain, MRI confirming labral tear, and primary arthroscopy. Exclusion criteria were: revision arthroscopy, high energy trauma, history of femur or pelvis fractures, Tonnis grade >1, proliferative hip disease, and deformities including Perthes, SCFE, or DDH. CT reviewed included acetabulum and proximal femur version analyses, femoral neck alpha angle, lateral and anterior center edge angles, and neck-shaft angle. Results The cohort included 123 male and 74 female hips. Females had lower functional scores (p<0.001). Main procedures were cam decompression, rim decompression, Psoas release, and labrum repair. Females had significantly smaller alpha angle (48 vs. 63 degrees, p<0.001), increased acetabular version (17 vs. 14 degrees, p<0.001), and increased anterior center edge angle (57 vs. 53 degrees, p=0.002). Femur version, lateral center edge angle, and neck-shaft angle demonstrated similar gender morphology. The morphological differences between males and females observed in the entire cohort remained noticeable despite further stratifications of the comparisons to patients undergoing similar procedures. Summary In young athletic adults with hip pain and labral tears females have smaller alpha angle, increased acetabular version, and increased anterior center edge angle compared to males. These characteristics may provide rationale for understanding symptoms, physical findings, and for planning surgery.