Surgical release of iliopsoas tendon for groin pain after total hip arthroplasty

After total hip arthroplasty (THA), some patients continue to have groin pain. Conditions that can cause groin pain include infection or tumor, aseptic loosening of the components, and soft tissue inflammation. Occasionally the soft tissue inflammation is tendinitis of the iliopsoas tendon. This condition commonly occurs because the anterior metal wall of the cup protrudes above the anterior bony acetabular wall, such as would occur with a lateralized cup, especially if capsulectomy has been done (Fig. 1).

This also could occur if the cup is placed in a retroverted position, for which revision has been required. This pain can be relieved by surgical release of the iliopsoas tendon.