The central acetabular osteophyte is located at the margins of the cotyloid fossa. It has been shown that this osteophyte causes lateral displacement of the femoral head (lateralization), with resulting loss of its congruence with the articular surface of the acetabulum and consequently an increase in contact forces and mechanical wear of the articular cartilage.
In the past, studies have suggested that the central acetabular osteophyte can cause the syndrome of central acetabular impingement, and have argued for the need for arthroscopic removal of the osteophyte.
In a new study a comparison was made of the results after hip arthroscopy for femoroacetabular impingement syndrome, and the results were compared between a group with a central osteophyte that was not removed and a control group.
This was a retrospective study which included two groups of 46 hips each, with a minimum follow-up of two years.
The authors concluded that the group in which a central osteophyte was present had worse medium-term results, on patient-reported hip outcome scores, than the control group.
This study opens a wide debate as to whether the central osteophyte should be removed during arthroscopy.
Source: “Arthroscopy”, August 2022
