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Hypertrophy of the tensor fascia lata muscle as a complication of total hip arthroplasty

  • Original Article • HIP - ARTHROPLASTY
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Abstract

Introduction

Hypertrophy of the tensor fascia lata muscle (HTFLM) is a rare complication after total hip arthroplasty (THA) and is a potential source of pain, palpable mass, or both.

Materials and methods

We retrospectively analyzed 1285 primary THAs and 482 THA revisions (THAR) performed at our center from 2008 to 2014. Among these, five patients had HTFLM (average age 68.8 years). The type of surgery and symptoms were evaluated, as were imaging studies (CT or MRI) of both hips (10 hips), and functional outcomes with the Merle d’Aubigné score.

Results

The suspected diagnosis was established at an average of 30.2 months after surgery. Four cases occurred after THA and one case after THAR. A modified Hardinge approach was used in four cases and a Röttinger approach in one case. Two cases had pain and palpable mass in the trochanteric region and three cases only pain. The asymmetric HTFLM of the THA side against the nonsurgical side was confirmed by measuring the cross section of the tensor fascia lata muscle on imaging. The sartorius muscle was measured for reference in each case. The Merle d’Aubigne scale had a mean value of 16.6 (range 13–18) at 38 months after the procedure.

Conclusions

HTFLM after THA is a benign condition that could be mistaken for a tumor when presenting as a palpable mass. We propose that it should be considered in the differential diagnosis of pain in the lateral aspect of hips that have previously undergone THA.

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Abbreviations

HTFLM:

Hypertrophy of the tensor fascia lata muscle

THA:

Total hip arthroplasty

THAR:

THA revisions

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Hip Unit, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery and Traumatology, Hospital Clinic, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain

    Juan Miguel Rodríguez-Roiz, Guillem Bori, Jenaro A. Fernández-Valencia & Sebastián Garcia

  2. Department of Radiology, Hospital Clinic, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain

    Xavier Tomas, Ana Isabel García-Díez & Jaume Pomés

  3. Hospital Clínic de Barcelona, University of Barcelona, C/ Villarroel 170, 08036, Barcelona, Spain

    Juan Miguel Rodríguez-Roiz

Authors
  1. Juan Miguel Rodríguez-Roiz
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  2. Guillem Bori
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  3. Xavier Tomas
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  4. Jenaro A. Fernández-Valencia
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  5. Ana Isabel García-Díez
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  6. Jaume Pomés
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  7. Sebastián Garcia
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Juan Miguel Rodríguez-Roiz.

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The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Ethical approval

All procedures were performed in accordance with the ethical standards of the relevant institutional and/or national research committee and with the 1964 Helsinki Declaration and its later amendments.

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Due to the retrospective nature of the study, formal consent was not required.

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Cite this article

Rodríguez-Roiz, J.M., Bori, G., Tomas, X. et al. Hypertrophy of the tensor fascia lata muscle as a complication of total hip arthroplasty. Eur J Orthop Surg Traumatol 27, 255–259 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00590-016-1854-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00590-016-1854-z

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