FDG PET/MRI to find causes of ongoing hip pain after arthroscopy

Identifying and Managing Pain Generators in Patients With Persistent Post-hip Arthroscopy Pain Using FDG PET/MRI

This trial will try a single FDG PET/MRI scan to see if it can find inflammation or other problems in adults 18–45 who still have moderate to severe pain at least six months after one hip arthroscopy.

Quick facts

• Phase: PHASE2
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 15 (estimated)
• Ages: 18 Years to 45 Years
• Sex: All
• Sponsor: University of Wisconsin, Madison (other)
• Locations: 1 site (Madison, Wisconsin)
• Trial ID: NCT07066709 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

The study will recruit adults with a history of unilateral hip arthroscopy and persistent pain to undergo one FDG PET/MRI scan to detect areas of inflammation or hypermetabolic tissue. Participants will include people who go on to revision hip arthroscopy, people whose pain resolved after the first arthroscopy, and people who choose steroid injection for pain management for comparison. The FDG PET/MRI method provides metabolic information beyond conventional MRI and may reveal inflammatory sources not visible on standard imaging. The single-center trial is conducted at the University of Wisconsin–Madison with standard exclusions for fracture, infection, malignancy, major pre-existing psychiatric conditions, opioid dependence, and pregnancy.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Adults aged 18–45 with a single unilateral hip arthroscopy who have persistent hip pain ≥4/10 for at least six months, no evidence of fracture/infection/malignancy, no major pre-existing psychiatric disorder or opioid dependence, not pregnant, and who are candidates for revision surgery or steroid injection.

Not a fit: Patients with bilateral hip arthroscopy, active fracture, infection or malignancy at six months, major pre-existing mental health conditions or opioid dependence, pregnancy, or those whose hip pain has already resolved are unlikely to benefit from this imaging test.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this imaging approach could help doctors pinpoint sources of post-arthroscopy hip pain to guide whether patients need revision surgery, injections, or other treatments, potentially avoiding unnecessary operations.

How similar studies have performed: FDG PET/MRI has shown sensitivity for detecting focal inflammation and hypermetabolic lesions in other musculoskeletal and inflammatory conditions, but its use specifically to diagnose persistent pain after hip arthroscopy is novel and largely untested.

Eligibility criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

* Age 18-45
* History of unilateral hip arthroscopy
* Does not have evidence of fracture, infection, or malignancy at 6 months post-hip arthroscopy
* Does not have evidence of depression or other major mental health conditions before the index hip arthroscopy
* Does not have persistent pain that requires opioid use, or does not have a history of opioid abuse
* Does not have any comorbidity results in systemic disease limiting function (ASA physical status classification \>3)
* Not currently pregnant
* Presents with persistent pain (≥4/10 on NRS) for at least 6 months post-hip arthroscopy
* Undergo a revision hip arthroscopy with no surgical history on the contralateral limb

Exclusion Criteria:

* No unilateral hip arthroscopy
* Evidence of fracture, infection, or malignancy at 6 months post-hip arthroscopy
* Evidence of depression or other major mental health conditions before the index hip arthroscopy
* Has persistent pain that requires opioid use, or has a history of opioid abuse
* Has any comorbidity results in systemic disease limiting function (ASA physical status classification \<3)
* Currently pregnant

Where this trial is running

Madison, Wisconsin

• University of Wisconsin - Madison — Madison, Wisconsin, United States (RECRUITING)

Study contacts

• Principal investigator: Andrea Spiker, MD — University of Wisconsin, Madison
• Study coordinator: Amie Armstrong

Conditions: Unilateral Hip Arthroscopy