Objectives:. Experimental disruption of the labrum has been shown to compromise its sealing function and alter cartilage lubrication. However, it is not known whether pathological changes to the labrum secondary to femoro-acetabular impingement (FAI) have a similar impact on labral function. This study was performed to determine the effect of natural labral damage secondary to abnormal femoral morphology on the labral seal. Methods:. Ten intact hip specimens were obtained from male donors (47.8 ± 1.5 yrs) for use in this study. CT reconstructions demonstrated that 6 specimens were of normal morphology, while 4 displayed morphology typical of cam-FAI. Specimens were dissected free of the overlying soft tissue, leaving the capsule and labrum intact. Each specimen was potted and placed in a loading apparatus (0.5 BW). Pressures developed within the central and peripheral compartments were monitored with miniature pressure transducers. The sealing capacity of the labrum was measured by introducing fluid into the central compartment at a constant rate until transport was detected from the central to the peripheral compartment. These measurements were performed in 10 functional positions simulating sequential stages of gait, stooping, and pivoting. During testing, the 3D motion of the femoral head in the acetabulum was measured with motion analysis combined with computer visualization. Peak pressures were compared between specimens with and without labral damage for each of the three activities (p < 0.05). Results:. Visual observation following testing showed that each specimen with CAM morphology exhibited secondary damage of the labrum and the adjacent chondral surface, while specimens of normal morphology were undamaged. Average peak central compartment pressure was affected by the presence of labral damage secondary to impingement. The specimens with labral damage exhibited reduced peak central compartment pressure during pivot (15.2 ± 2.6 vs. 42.3 ± 7.7 kPa; p = 0.007) when compared to intact specimens. Conversely, no differences in peak pressure were detected between specimens with and without labral damage during simulated gait (21.1 ± 6.0 vs. 22.0 ± 4.2 kPA; p = 0.9) and stooping (8.6 ± 2.4 vs. 7.5 ± 2.6 kPa; p = 0.78). Conclusions:. The acetabular seal, quantified by intra-articular pressure, was affected by the presence of labral damage secondary to impingement. The reduction in ultimate pressure occurred during pivoting; however, the seal was maintained during gait and stooping. These results are in contrast to previous studies which reported a complete negation of the seal in response to experimentally-created labral disruption. As degeneration is progressive with repetitive impingement, loss of the seal starts to be seen during pivoting and may progress from there, but at this time point (50 years), the seal remains intact during gait and stooping. Our study highlights the importance of using clinically relevant joint injury models to study labral function

Cam-type femoroacetabular impingement is caused by bone excess on the femoral neck abutting the acetabular rim. This can cause cartilage and labral damage due to increased contact pressure as the cam moves into the acetabulum. However, the damage mechanism and the influence of individual mechanical factors (such as sliding distance) are poorly understood. The aim of this study was to identify the cam sliding distance during impingement for different activities in the hip joint. Motion data for 12 different motion activities from 18 subjects, were applied to a hip shape model (selected as most likely to cause damage, anteriorly positioned with a maximum alpha angle of 80°). The model comprised of a pointwise representation of the acetabular rim and points on the femoral head and neck where the shape deviated from a sphere (software:Matlab). The movement of each femoral point was tracked in 3D while an activity motion was applied, and impingement recorded when overlap between a cam point and the acetabular rim occurred. Sliding distance was recorded during impingement for each relevant femoral point. Angular sliding distances varied for different activities. The highest mean (±SD) sliding distance was for leg-crossing (42.62±17.96mm) and lowest the trailing hip in golf swing (2.17±1.11mm). The high standard deviation in the leg crossing sliding distances, indicates subjects may perform this activity in a different manner. This study quantified sliding distance during cam impingement for different activities. This is an important parameter for determining how much the hip moves during activities that may cause damage and will provide information for future experimental studies

Femoroacetabular impingement recently was recognized as cause for osteoarthritis of the hip. There are two mechanism of impingement: (1) cam impingement caused by a non-spherical head, and (2) pincer impingement due to acetabular overcover. We hypothesized that both mechanism result in different articular damage patterns. Of 302 analyzed hips only 26 had an isolated cam and 16 an isolated pincer impingement. Cam impingement caused anterosuperior acetabular cartilage damage with a separation between labrum and cartilage. During flexion the cartilage is sheared off the bone by the non-spherical part of the femoral head. In pincer impingement the cartilage damage was located circumferentially, invovolving only a narrow strip along the acetabular rim. During motion the labrum is crushed between the acetabular rim and the femoral neck causing degeneration and ossification of the labrum. Cam and pincer impingement are two basic mechanism that lead to osteoarthrosis of the hip. The articular damage pattern differs substantially. Isolated cam or pincer impingement is rare, in most hips a combination is present. Labral damage indicates ongoing impingement and rarely occurs alone

The spectrum of pathoanatomy in collision athletes with shoulder instability is wide, with a high incidence of extended labral lesions and associated intra-articular injuries. The ‘collision shoulder’ describes an injury sustained by direct impact to the shoulder without dislocation, but with extensive labral damage and a high incidence of other intra-articular pathology and neurological symptoms. One hundred and eighty-three collision athletes (rugby and rugby league) were treated for labral injuries related to their sport in three different centres. Details of the mechanism of injury and findings at surgery were recorded. Only 60% of athletes in the series presented following a documented dislocation or subluxation episode of the shoulder. An additional pattern of injury was recognised in the remaining athletes involving a direct impact injury to the shoulder. In these athletes the clinical symptoms and signs were less specific but there was a high incidence of ‘dead arm’ at the time of injury (72%). The spectrum of pathology in this series was wide with a high incidence of associated intra-articular lesions. In those athletes with an impact type of injury without dislocation there was more extensive labral pathology with a high incidence of posterior labral tears (50%). The incidence of associated chondral lesions was similarly very high but significant bony pathology was less common than in the dislocation group (11 % versus 26%). Elite athletes had less frank dislocations but were more likely to sustain neurological injury, posterior labral tears, SLAP lesions and cartilaginous and capsular injuries. The incidence of all lesions in this series of collision athletes is higher than those previously published. These lesions often occurred in the absence of a frank dislocation (the ‘collision shoulder). It is important to anticipate additional pathology when planning definitive management in these patients, with surgery tailored to the specific lesions found. The athlete with an impact type of injury without dislocation can do well following surgery, with a high rate of return to contact sport, either at the same or a higher level

Introduction: Hip pain in young adults can be associated with radiographic finding of acetabular labral tears in magnetic resonance arthrography. Acetabular labral tears can occur in dysplastic hips and in arthrotic hips as well, but often no comobidity is found. Up to now there is no prospective study published following patients with magnetic resonance arthrography verified acetabular labral tears over time and re-evaluating them with MR years later. There is also no stage related therapy published according to labral damage. The aim of this study was to follow 100 MRI verified acetabular labral tears for four years. Material and methods: Study design was prospective, observers were blinded. At primary investigation 36 clinical and 30 radiological parameters were recorded. At follow up these factors were recorded again and additionally SF36 and Harris Hip score were recorded. Results: 100 patients with average age 42 were included. 91% of all patients could be followed for over 48 months. 55 operations were performed in 50 patients . 20 patients showed concomitant developmental dysplasia of the hip, 16 patients arthrosis, 40 patients both and 15 patients had a labral lesion alone. The last group of patients never required any operation. 28 patients had a labral lesion grade I, 29 grade II, 34 grade III. Patients with grade III lesions had a significantly lower HHS at the first examination. At follow up between all groups of patients no difference regarding any clinical parameter was found. Operations were only necessary if comorbidity (dysplasia or arthrosis) was found. No single radiologic or clinical parameter could predict operation. Nine of thirteen labral surgeries were revised (triple osteotomies or THR). No correlation between severity of labral lesion at first MRI and any parameter at follow up could be found. Conclusion: If no comorbidity was found an acetabular labral tear alone never needed operative treatment. Although there exist a series of different operative treatment opportunities in meniscal/glenoid labrum surgery , we could not find the need for surgical intervention if the acetabular labral tear occurs alone. We therefore recommend physiotherapy and non – operative treatment for these patients

Aims

Femoroacetabular Junction Impingement (FAI) describes abnormalities in the shape of the femoral head–neck junction, or abnormalities in the orientation of the acetabulum. In the short term, FAI can give rise to pain and disability, and in the long-term it significantly increases the risk of developing osteoarthritis. The Femoroacetabular Impingement Trial (FAIT) aims to determine whether operative or non-operative intervention is more effective at improving symptoms and preventing the development and progression of osteoarthritis.

The August 2012 Hip & Pelvis Roundup³⁶⁰ looks at: whether cemented hip replacement might be bad for your health; highly cross-linked polyethylene; iHOT-33 - a new hip outcome measure; hamstring injuries; total hip replacement; stemmed metal-on-metal THR; bipolar hemiarthroplasty, neuromuscular disease and dislocation; the high risk of secondary hemiarthroplasty; and whether we have to repair the labrum after all?

Over recent years hip arthroscopic surgery has evolved into one of the most rapidly expanding fields in orthopaedic surgery. Complications are largely transient and incidences between 0.5% and 6.4% have been reported. However, major complications can and do occur. This article analyses the reported complications and makes recommendations based on the literature review and personal experience on how to minimise them.