Endoscopic Pubic Symphysectomy for Reclacitrant Osteitis Pubis Associated With Bilateral Femoroacetabular Impingement

Abstract

This is the first reported case of the completely endoscopic management of osteitis pubis with pubic symphysectomy. A 31-year-old woman suffered from recalcitrant osteitis pubis that had progressed to an end-stage auto-fused condition. Ossified pubic symphyseal fibrocartilage and adjacent heterotopic bone were endoscopically removed as part of a comprehensive surgery that also involved bilateral arthroscopic surgery for symptomatic femoroacetabular impingement. An innovative dual-portal (anterior and supra-pubic) endoscopic technique is presented along with the rationale for the preservation of the inferior (arcuate) pubic ligament and the posterior pubic ligament. Twelve months following this single-stage surgery, the patient reported high satisfaction with decreased pain, improved function, and resolution of a classic waddling gait. The association of intra-articular hip pathology with osteitis pubis is noted. We believe that this minimally invasive bone-conserving surgery may be useful in the management of recalcitrant osteitis pubis and perhaps find broader application in the outpatient endoscopic treatment of athletes afflicted with this condition.