Abstract

The authors performed a double-blind randomized study considering the use of selective infiltration of the hip joint with bupivacain 0.5% as a diagnostic tool in mild and moderate acetabular dysplasia in the adult. In 40 patients with symptomatic acetabular dysplasia the hip joint was infiltrated with either bupivacain 0.5% or placebo in a double-blind setting. Patients were scored for pain before the injection and for pain relief on a visual analogue scale (VAS) immediately after the injection and after two weeks. There was no statistically significant difference between the two groups for pain relief and duration of pain relief. Duration of pain relief was significantly related to severity of pain before the injection. Diagnostic infiltration of the hip joint with bupivacain in mild and moderate acetabular dysplasia does not prove to be a reliable diagnostic aid in the decision to treat this condition operatively. However, it might be valuable in cases with advanced osteoarthritis: further studies should be undertaken.