BACKGROUND: Delaminated acetabular cartilage is a common finding in patients undergoing surgical dislocation or hip arthroscopy in the treatment of cam-type femoroacetabular impingement. Current treatment involves resection of the free cartilage flap with or without acetabular rim trimming. The viability of the delaminated cartilage flap is not known. We sought to examine if the acetabular cartilage still has viable cartilage cells and, if so, what type of cartilage is present. METHODS: We examined the delaminated cartilage flaps from patients undergoing surgical dislocation and osteochondroplasty for symptomatic cam-type impingement. We performed hematoxylin and eosin staining and histological analysis using light microscopy to determine cartilage viability and cartilage type. RESULTS: We examined 12 delaminated cartilage flaps from 11 patients (10 men, 1 woman, average age 30.1 yr). Ninety percent chondrocyte viability was confirmed in 11 of 12 flaps. Six of 12 flaps were composed predominantly of hyaline cartilage, 4 were a mixed population of fibrocartilage and hyaline cartilage and 2 were predominantly fibrocartilage. CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest that the delaminated cartilage flap in patients with femoroacetabular impingement may retain a large amount of viable chondrocytes. Development of surgical techniques focusing on refixation of this flap as an alternative to excision and microfracture should be considered.
BACKGROUND: Delaminated acetabular cartilage is a common finding in patients undergoing surgical dislocation or hip arthroscopy in the treatment of cam-type femoroacetabular impingement. Current treatment involves resection of the free cartilage flap with or without acetabular rim trimming. The viability of the delaminated cartilage flap is not known. We sought to examine if the acetabular cartilage still has viable cartilage cells and, if so, what type of cartilage is present. METHODS: We examined the delaminated cartilage flaps from patients undergoing surgical dislocation and osteochondroplasty for symptomatic cam-type impingement. We performed hematoxylin and eosin staining and histological analysis using light microscopy to determine cartilage viability and cartilage type. RESULTS: We examined 12 delaminated cartilage flaps from 11 patients (10 men, 1 woman, average age 30.1 yr). Ninety percent chondrocyte viability was confirmed in 11 of 12 flaps. Six of 12 flaps were composed predominantly of hyaline cartilage, 4 were a mixed population of fibrocartilage and hyaline cartilage and 2 were predominantly fibrocartilage. CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest that the delaminated cartilage flap in patients with femoroacetabular impingement may retain a large amount of viable chondrocytes. Development of surgical techniques focusing on refixation of this flap as an alternative to excision and microfracture should be considered.
Authors: Sandro Kohl; Harish S Hosalkar; P Mainil-Varlet; Andreas Krueger; Lorenz Buechler; Klaus Siebenrock Journal: Hip Int Date: 2011-04-05 Impact factor: 2.135
Authors: Lucas A Anderson; Christopher L Peters; Brandon B Park; Gregory J Stoddard; Jill A Erickson; Julia R Crim Journal: J Bone Joint Surg Am Date: 2009-02 Impact factor: 5.284
Authors: Kevin M Smith; Brayden J Gerrie; Patrick C McCulloch; Brian D Lewis; R Chad Mather; Geoffrey Van Thiel; Shane J Nho; Joshua D Harris Journal: J Hip Preserv Surg Date: 2016-12-07
Authors: Michael P Kucharik; Paul F Abraham; Mark R Nazal; Nathan H Varady; Christopher T Eberlin; Wendy M Meek; Sara A Naessig; Scott D Martin Journal: Orthop J Sports Med Date: 2021-12-07
Authors: Masahiko Haneda; Muhammad Farooq Rai; Lei Cai; Robert H Brophy; Regis J O'Keefe; John C Clohisy; Cecilia Pascual-Garrido Journal: Am J Sports Med Date: 2020-08 Impact factor: 6.202