The traction force of the pulled limb in hip arthroscopic surgery is determined by stiffness coefficient which is significantly related to muscle volume.

PURPOSE: To verify the relationship between muscle volume, lateral centre-edge angle (LCEA), alpha angle (AA), body mass index (BMI) and Beighton score with stiffness coefficient (SC). To analyse the difference of traction force at different physical states of hip joint capsule.

METHODS

Thirty-six patients who underwent hip arthroscopy operation were included. The volumes of some related muscles were measured in MRI images by 3D Slicer. We recorded and tested differences in traction force of five joint capsule physical states, including before (State 1) and after joint capsule puncture (State 2), after the establishment of anterolateral and mid-anterior approaches (State 3) and after incision of the joint capsule through these two approaches (States 4, 5). The correlation between muscle volume, BMI, LCEA, AA and SC was verified by Spearman test. Poisson regression was used to explain confounding variables.

RESULTS

The average force at State 1 was 531.8 N. There were significant differences in traction force between these five states (p < 0.001). There was a significant positive correlation between muscle volumes and SC (p < 0.001). BMI had no correlation with SC (n.s.). The preoperative LCEA of the affected side was correlated with SC (p = 0.043). AA and SC were not correlated (n.s.).

CONCLUSION

The physical states of the hip joint capsule affected traction force. Muscle volume rather than BMI is an ideal index to estimate preoperative traction force. LCEA affected traction force, whilst AA and Beighton score did not. Measuring the muscle volume can help estimate the most suitable traction force for the patient.

LEVELS OF EVIDENCE: IV.