Cyclists Have Greater Chondromalacia Index Than Age-Matched Controls at the Time of Hip Arthroscopy

Abstract

To evaluate the clinical symptoms and intraoperative pathology associated with hip pain in the cyclist compared with a matched hip arthroscopy surgical group. In an institutional review board-approved study, we retrospectively reviewed a prospective database of 1,200 consecutive hip arthroscopy patients from 2008 to 2015. Adult patients were identified who reported cycling as a major component of their activity. Patients were age, gender, and body mass index matched to a control, noncycling group. Pain symptoms, preoperative examinations, radiographic and operative findings were compared. Primary outcome variables included the femoral and acetabular Outerbridge chondromalacia grade. Additional outcome measurements included the involved area and the chondromalacia index (CMI; the product of the Outerbridge chondromalacia grade and surface area [mm2× severity]). A total of 167 noncyclists were matched to the cycling group (n= 16). Cyclists had significantly greater femoral head chondromalacia grade (2.0 [95% confidence interval (CI), 1.5-2.5] v 1.4 [95% CI, 1.3-1.6], P= .043), femoral head chondromalacia area (242 mm2 [95% CI, 191-293 mm2] v 128 mm2 [95% CI, 113-141 mm2], P < .001), and femoral head CMI (486 [95% CI, 358-615] v 247 [95% CI, 208-286], P= .001) assessed intraoperatively. Hip pain in cyclists positively correlated with an increased acetabular center-edge angle (R= 0.261, P < .001) and an increased Tonnis grade (R= 0.305, P < .001). Cyclists were also more likely to have a coxalgic gait on physical examination (R= 0.250, P= .006). Cyclists had a greater degree of femoral chondromalacia than a matched group of noncyclists. Cycling activity positively correlated with the presence of femoral chondromalacia with clinically significant gait alterations. These data support the hypothesis that cyclists with hip pain have more chondral pathology than a similar group of other patients with hip pain. Ultimately, cyclists with hip pain should be identified as higher risk for more advanced chondral damage. Level III, case-control study, therapeutic.