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Novel pathomorphologic classification of capsulo-articular lesions of the pubic symphysis in athletes to predict treatment and outcome

  • Arthroscopy and Sports Medicine
  • Published:
Archives of Orthopaedic and Trauma Surgery Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Introduction

Radiographic abnormalities of the symphysis as well as the formation of accessory clefts, indicating injury at the rectus-adductor aponeurosis, reportedly relate to longstanding groin pain in athletes. However, yet, no systematic classification for clinical and scientific purposes exists. We aimed to (1) create a radiographic classification based on symphysography; (2) test intra- and interobserver reliability; (3) characterise clinical significance of the morphologic patterns by evaluating success of injection therapy.

Patients and methods

We retrospectively reviewed symphysography, AP radiographs, and MRI of the pelvis from 70 consecutive competitive athletes, with chronic groin pain. Symphysographs were evaluated for intra- and interobserver variance using cohen’s kappa statistics. Morphologic studies of the different contrast distribution patterns and their clinical and radiological correlation with symptom relief were investigated. All patients were followed up to evaluate immediate and long-term response to the initial therapeutic injection with steroid.

Results

Four reproducible symphysographic patterns were identified: type 0, no changes; type 1, symphyseal disk degeneration; types 2a with unilateral clefts, bilateral clefts (2b), suprapubic clefts (2c); and type 3, with expanded or multidirectional clefts. Analysis revealed excellent intra (0.94)—and interobserver (0.90) reliability. Our findings showed that 78.6% of our patients had significant short-term improvement enabling early resumption of physiotherapy, only in types 1 and 2 (p = 0.001), while type 0 and 3 did not respond. At follow-up, only 21.8% had permanent pain relief. Regarding the detection of pathologic clefts with symphysography, sensitivity (88%) and specifity (77%) were superior to that of MRI.

Conclusions

A reproducible symphysography-based classification of distinct morphologic patterns is proposed. It serves as a predictive tool for response to injection therapy in a select group of pathologic lesions. Complete recovery after injection can only be expected in a lesser percentage, as this might indicate surgical treatment for long-term non-responders.

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Acknowledgements

The authors thank Tobias von Campe, medicine student, for his assistance in data collection for this study. We also thank Stefan Gräber, MD, University of Saarland, Institute for Medical Biometry, Epidemiology and Medical Statistics, Homburg/Saar, Germany, for his contribution in statistical analysis.

Funding

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Lutrina Clinic Kaiserslautern, Centre for Knee Surgery, Orthopaedics and Sports Traumatology, Groin Pain and Core Muscle Injury Centre, Karl-Marx-Strasse 33, 67655, Kaiserslautern, Germany

    Sascha Hopp

  2. Department of Trauma, Hand and Reconstructive Surgery, University of Saarland, Homburg, Saar, Germany

    Sascha Hopp, Ishaq Ojodu, Atul Jain, Tobias Fritz & Tim Pohlemann

  3. Ondo State Trauma Centre, Ondo, Nigeria

    Ishaq Ojodu

  4. Department of Orthopaedics, Maulana Azad Medical College and associated Lok Nayak Hospital, New Delhi, India

    Atul Jain

  5. Chirurgisch-Orthopädisches Zentrum, Illingen, Germany

    Jens Kelm

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  1. Sascha Hopp
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  2. Ishaq Ojodu
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  3. Atul Jain
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  4. Tobias Fritz
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  5. Tim Pohlemann
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  6. Jens Kelm
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Contributions

All authors contributed to the conception and design, interpretation of the data, critical revision, and final approval of the article. In addition, SH and TF were responsible for data acquisition; SH and SG were responsible for data analysis.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Sascha Hopp.

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The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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Regional Medical Ethics Committee, Germany (IRB No. 24/16).

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Hopp, S., Ojodu, I., Jain, A. et al. Novel pathomorphologic classification of capsulo-articular lesions of the pubic symphysis in athletes to predict treatment and outcome. Arch Orthop Trauma Surg 138, 687–697 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00402-018-2893-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00402-018-2893-1

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