Editorial Commentary: Stretching the Truth: We Need a Better System to Define Generalized Joint Laxity.

Abstract

As the indications and utilization of hip arthroscopy continue to grow, understanding outcomes in unique patient populations is a popular area of research. A specific cohort of interest are those with generalized joint laxity, a group in which instability issues may already be present and of concern for hip arthroscopy. The Beighton score, the standardized scale used to measure joint laxity in patients, presents several issues for its use as a diagnostic indicator, including disagreement on cut-offs, limited focus on lower extremity joints, and questionable validity. Hip arthroscopy has outgrown the single-faceted system, with controversial evidence to characterize this complex group of patients.