We have reviewed the current literature to compare the results of surgery aimed to repair or debride a damaged acetabular labrum. We identified 28 studies to be included in the review containing a total of 1631 hips in 1609 patients. Of these studies 12 reported a mean rate of good results of 82% (from 67% to 100%) for labral debridement. Of the 16 studies that reported a combination of debridement and re-attachment, five reported a comparative outcome for the two methods, four reported better results with re-attachment and one study did not find any significant difference in outcomes. Due to the heterogeneity of the studies it was not possible to perform a meta-analysis or draw accurate conclusions. Confounding factors in the studies include selection bias, use of historical controls and high rates of loss of follow-up.

It seems logical to repair an unstable tear in a good quality labrum with good potential to heal in order potentially to preserve its physiological function. A degenerative labrum on the other hand may be the source of discomfort and its preservation may result in persistent pain and the added risk of failure of re-attachment. The results of the present study do not support routine refixation for all labral tears.

Cite this article: Bone Joint J 2014;96-B:24–30.

Acetabular labral tears and associated intra-articular pathology of the hip have been recognised as a source of symptoms. However, it is now appreciated that there is a relatively high prevalence of asymptomatic labral tears. In this study, 70 young asymptomatic adult volunteers with a mean age of 26 years (19 to 41) were recruited and underwent three tesla non-arthrographic MR scans. There were 47 women (67.1%) and 23 men (32.9%). Labral tears were found in 27 volunteers (38.6%); these were an isolated finding in 16 (22.9%) and were associated with other intra-articular pathology in the remaining 11 (15.7%) volunteers. Furthermore, five (7.1%) had intra-articular pathology without an associated labral tear. Given the high prevalence of labral pathology in the asymptomatic population, it is important to confirm that a patient's symptoms are due to the demonstrated abnormalities when considering surgery. Cite this article: Bone Joint J 2015;97-B:623–7

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

Purpose: Acetabular labral tears are most commonly associated with minor or atraumatic events. As a result, it is likely that these tears occur in the presence of an abnormal hip joint. The purpose of this investigation was to establish whether anterior hip impingement, secondary to an anterior femoral offset deficiency from a pistol grip deformity, was a common and poorly recognized cause of acetabular labral tears. Methods: Sixty-five consecutive patients who underwent a hip arthroscopy and were found to have a labral tear were evaluated. Preoperative hip radiographs were evaluated for abnormalities of the femur and /or acetabulum. The patient’s outcome with respect to resolution to pain and mechanical symptoms was assessed. Results: All labral tears identified at the time of hip arthroscopy were found to be located anteriorly. A pistol grip deformity of the proximal femur was identified on the preoperative radiographs in 92% of the patients. Labral excision resulted in complete resolution of hip pain in only 8 (28%). With the remaining 72% experiencing mild or moderate pain. Conclusions: Acetabular labral tears are the result of repetitive femoral-acetabular impingement, from a pistol grip deformity, with eventual tearing of the labrum from a relatively minor trauma. This is analogous to a rotator cuff repair in the shoulder that is secondary to repetitive impingement by the acromium. Decompression or correction of the anterior hip impingement should routinely be considered at the time of labral surgery to provide complete relief of symptoms and diminish the risk of future joint degeneration

Since its creation, labral repair has become the preferred method among surgeons for the arthroscopic treatment of acetabular labral tears resulting in pain and dysfunction for patients. Labral reconstruction is performed mainly in revision hip arthroscopy but can be used in the primary setting when the labrum cannot be repaired or is calcified. The purpose of this study was to compare the survival between primary labral repair and labral reconstruction with survival defined as no further surgery (revision or total hip replacement). Patients who underwent labral repair or reconstruction between January 2005 and December 2018 in the primary setting were included in the study. Patients were included if they had primary hip arthroscopy with the senior author for femoroacetabular impingement (FAI), involving either labral reconstruction or labral repair, and were within the ages of 18 and 65 at the time of surgery. Exclusion criteria included confounding injuries (Leggs Calves Perthes, avascular necrosis, femoral head fracture, etc.), history of unilateral or bilateral hip surgeries, or Tönnis grades of 2 or 3 at the time of surgery. Labral repairs were performed when adequate tissue was available for repair and labral reconstruction was performed when tissue was absent, ossified or torn beyond repair. A total of 501 labral repairs and 114 labral reconstructions performed in the primary setting were included in the study. Labral reconstruction patients were older (37±10) compared to labral repair (34±11).(p=0.021). Second surgeries were required in 19/114 (17%) of labral reconstruction and 40/501(8%) [odds ratio: 2.3; 95% CI 1.3 to 4.2] (p=0.008). Revision hip arthroscopy were required in 6/114(5%) labral reconstructions and 33/501(6.5%) labral repair (p=0.496). Total hip replacement was required in 13/114 labral reconstructions and 7/501 labral repairs [odds ratio:9.1 95%CI 3.5 to 23] (p=< 0.01). The mean survival for the labral repair group was 10.2 years (95%CI:10 to 10.5) and 11.9 years (98%CI:10.9 to 12.8) in the labral reconstruction group. Conversion to total hip was required more often following primary labral reconstruction. Revision hip arthroscopy rates were similar between groups as was the mean survival, with both over 10 years. Similar survival was seen in labral repair and reconstruction when strict patient selection criteria are followed

Background: Acetabular labral tears are increasingly recognised as a cause of hip pain in young adults and middle aged patients. Degenerative acetabular conditions and sporting activities can cause labral injury. Recent interest has focussed on anterior femoroacetabular impingement as a cause of labral injury, progressive articular cartilage damage and secondary osteoarthritis. Labral tears are difficult to diagnose clinically or with conventional radiographic techniques. Aim: The purpose of this study was to assess the accuracy of MR arthrography in locating labral tears and articular cartilage defects compared with hip arthroscopy. Materials and Methods: 200 consecutive patients with a diagnosis of acetabular labral tear underwent hip arthroscopy. All of them had a preoperative Magnetic Resonance Arthrogram done by a single musculoskeletal radiologist using a standard protocol. The labrum was assessed for abnormalities of morphology and signal intensity. Acetabular articular cartilage defects were expressed as a reduction in joint space. All hip arthroscopies were done by a single surgeon after a trial period of conservative therapy consisting of activity modification, physiotherapy and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications. All procedures were recorded digitally and documented in an operative report. Labral tears and acetabular cartilage abnormalities were described by location and appearance. Results: Comparison of MRA and hip arthroscopy findings demonstrate MRA to have a sensitivity of 100%, positive predictive value of 99%, negative predictive value of 100% and accuracy of 99% in predicting labral tears. MRA correctly identified the location of labral tears in 90% of cases. Acetabular cartilage abnormalities were under recognised by MRA (43 hips on MRA vs 54 hips on arthroscopy). MRA was not sensitive enough to pick up early delamination of cartilage adjacent to labral tear in 6 hips. Conclusion: Hip MRA with radial reformatting has high accuracy rates in diagnosing and localising hip labral lesions

The epidemiological data and intra-operative findings from 260 consecutive arthroscopically-diagnosed acetabular labral tears seen over a ten-year period were analysed. Radiographs of 128 of these patients were assessed for dysplasia using established radiological parameters. Patients with acetabular dysplasia were then compared against those without in order to identify any differences in gender, age, the side of the tear, the pattern of the tear, the number of quadrants involved, the quadrant preference and the prevalence of intra-articular comorbidity. Dysplasia was found in 46% (59 of 128) of the hips. No significant differences existed between the dysplastic and non-dysplastic subgroups as regards gender distribution, the side of the lesion, the number of quadrants involved or the distribution of tears among the quadrants. However, tears associated with dysplasia were diagnosed in an older age group, had a different pattern and were associated with a much higher prevalence of osteoarthritis

Background. Acetabular labral tears can cause pain and microinstability and are the most common indication for hip arthroscopy. Hip labral repair demonstrates better clinical outcome scores at a mean of 3.5 years post surgery than labral excision and tends to be performed in a younger age group. While different labral stitch configurations are possible, the most frequently used are a mattress stitch passed though the hip labrum at its widest part, or a simple loop surrounding the labrum. To determine the strength of variousrepair techniques and the impact suture passer sizesonhip labrum failure after cyclic loading. Methods. 35 unattached fresh-frozen bovine hip labrums were assigned to 5 repair techniques (7 specimens each): Group 1: horizontal mattress using a penetrating grasper; Group 2: vertical mattress using a penetrating grasper; Group 3: vertical mattress using asuture lasso; Group 4: Oblique repair using a penetrating grasper; Group 5: vertical mattress using a penetrating grasper and monopolar radio frequency device. Using a materials testing machine and after a 10N preload, each contruct was subjected to 20 cycles at 5N–80N. Cyclic elongation, peak-to-peak displacement, ultimate failure load, stiffness, and failure mode were recorded. Results. Group 1 (249N) had lower ultimate load than groups 2 (277N), 3 (289N), 4 (281N), and 5 (278N) (p<0.05) and higher peak to peak displacement, cyclic elongation (14mm) than group 3 (12mm) (p<0.05). Group 2 (15mm) had higher peak to peak displacement than group 3 (p<0.05). Group 3 had lower cyclic elongation and peak to peak displacements than group 4 (p<0.05). Conclusion. A horizontal mattress hip labrum repair demonstrates lower ultimate failure load than a vertical mattress or an oblique suture repair. A smaller diameter suture passing device demonstrated less cyclic displacement but no difference in ultimate failure load than a large diameter device. Radiofrequency treatment did not have any effect on the strength of the suture repair configuration. Level of evidence. Level 5

We have reviewed a consecutive series of six professional footballers who presented with intractable hip pain which was attributed at arthroscopy, to an anterior acetabular labral tear with adjacent chondral damage. The location and type of labral tear were identical for each patient. There was no evidence of acetabular dysplasia. A variable area of chondral damage was associated with the labral tear. All unstable tissue was resected. Five returned to professional football at the highest level. Acetabular labral pathology should be included in the differential diagnosis of footballers with hip or groin pain. Arthroscopy of the hip is an appropriate method of diagnosis and treatment and minimises the length of rehabilitation required

In a longitudinal case-control study, we followed 81 subjects with dysplasia of the hip and 136 control subjects without dysplasia for ten years assessing radiological evidence of degeneration of the hip at admission and follow-up. There were no cases of subluxation in the group with dysplasia. Neither subjects with dysplasia nor controls had radiological signs of ongoing degenerative disease at admission. The primary radiological discriminator of degeneration of the hip was a change in the minimum joint space width over time. There were no significant differences between these with dysplasia and controls in regard to age, body mass index or occupational exposure to daily repeated lifting at admission. We found no significant differences in the reduction of the joint space width at follow-up between subjects with dysplasia and the control subjects nor in self-reported pain in the hip. The association of subluxation and/or associated acetabular labral tears with dysplasia of the hip may be a conditional factor for the development of premature osteoarthritis in mildly to moderately dysplastic hips

Labral tears can lead to disabling hip pain however underlying structural (femoroacetabular impingement) and developmental abnormalities predisposing to labral pathology may be left untreated if the peripheral compartment is ignored during hip arthroscopy. Femoroace-tabular impingement (FAI) can be secondary to abnormal morphologic features involving either the proximal femur and/or the acetabulum. Both acetabular labral tears and FAI lead to premature osteoarthritis of the hip. Early diagnosis and treatment of these hip pathologic abnormalities is important, not only to provide pain relief but also to prevent the development of osteoarthritis. Purpose: To describe the technique for arthroscopy of the peripheral compartment of the hip joint without traction. Methods: We performed 9 hip arthroscopies without traction from a lateral and and anterolateral portals in the supine position. After a traditional central arthroscopy with traction, 60 degrees of flexion at the hip joint without traction allowed relaxation of the anterior capsule and increased the intra-articular volume of the peripheral compartment. Results: Inspection of the peripheral compartment was obtained from the anterolateral portal. The anterior neck area, medial neck area, medial head area, anterior head area, lateral head area and lateral neck area were viewed. In 3 patients, loose bodies were removed. In 1 patient with PVNS synovial biopsy was taken and synovectomy was performed. Osteochondroplasty was performed in 5 patients for femoroacetabular impingement. No complications were observed. Conclusions: Hip arthroscopy without traction is mandatory to complete assessment and adequate treatment of the painful hip

Arthroscopic labral debridement has become and accepted mode of treatment for acetabular labral tears (ALTs) and yet results in literature are few and conflicting especially with regards presence of cartilage damage and its influence on outcome. Aim of our prospective cohort study was to look at outcome of ALTs post arthroscopic limbectomy using validated questionnaires at average of 2 years. We also looked at the sensitivity of MR arthrography in detecting ALTs and cartilage damage. Consecutive cohort of 82 patients who were suspected of having ALTs by senior author had MR arthrography followed by hip arthroscopy. All patients filled out a WOMAC, NAHS scores before and after the operation. All patients who were followed up also filled an especially designed five-point functional questionnaire. At time of arthroscopy the presence of labral tear, its position in the acetabulum and degree of cartilage damage (based on Outerbridge classification) were recorded and correlated with Mra and patient outcome. Seventy six patients were found to have a labral tear, with majority of these lesions in the anterior or antero-superior quadrant. 59% of patients were shown to have an associated degree of cartilage damage. Although overall all patients showed significant improvement in their functional scores, those with high grade cartilage damage had poorer results in comparison. We also found that patients with older age are at higher risk of requiring a THJR in the first 2 years following arthroscopy. MRa proved to a sensitive tool at detecting labral pathology but not so at identifying presence of cartilage damage. Arthroscopic debridement of ALTs in patients presenting with mechanical hip symptoms provides good functional outcome, however it should be used with caution in those with high grade articular cartilage damage and older age group where there is higher likelihood of failure

We followed up 76 consecutive hips with symptomatic acetabular dysplasia treated by acetabular shelf augmentation for a mean period of 11 years. Survival analysis using conversion to hip replacement as an end-point was 86% at five years and 46% at ten years. Forty-four hips with slight or no narrowing of the joint space pre-operatively had a survival of 97% at five and 75% at ten years. This was significantly higher (p = 0.0007) than that of the 32 hips with moderate or severe narrowing of the joint-space, which was 76% at five and 22% at ten years. There was no significant relationship between survival and age (p = 0.37) or the pre- and post-operative centre-edge (p = 0.39) and acetabular angles (p = 0.85).

Shelf acetabuloplasty is a reliable, safe procedure offering medium-term symptomatic relief for adults with acetabular dysplasia. The best results were achieved in patients with mild and moderate dysplasia of the hip with little arthritis.

In Japan, osteoarthritis (OA) of the hip secondary to acetabular dysplasia is very common, and there are few data concerning the pathogeneses and incidence of femoroacetabular impingement (FAI). We have attempted to clarify the radiological prevalence of painful FAI in a cohort of Japanese patients and to investigate the radiological findings. We identified 176 symptomatic patients (202 hips) with Tönnis grade 0 or 1 osteoarthritis, whom we prospectively studied between August 2011 and July 2012. There were 61 men (65 hips) and 115 women (137 hips) with a mean age of 51.8 years (11 to 83). Radiological analyses included the α-angle, centre–edge angle, cross-over sign, pistol grip deformity and femoral head neck ratio. Of the 202 hips, 79 (39.1%) had acetabular dysplasia, while 80 hips (39.6%) had no known aetiology. We found evidence of FAI in 60 hips (29.7%). Radiological FAI findings associated with cam deformity were the most common. There was a significant relationship between the pistol grip deformity and both the α-angle (p < 0.001) and femoral head–neck ratio (p = 0.024). Radiological evidence of symptomatic FAI was not uncommon in these Japanese patients.

Cite this article: Bone Joint J 2013;96-B:172–6.

Hip arthroscopy is particularly attractive in children as it confers advantages over arthrotomy or open surgery, such as shorter recovery time and earlier return to activity. Developments in surgical technique and arthroscopic instrumentation have enabled extension of arthroscopy of the hip to this age group. Potential challenges in paediatric and adolescent hip arthroscopy include variability in size, normal developmental change from childhood to adolescence, and conditions specific to children and adolescents and their various consequences. Treatable disorders include the sequelae of traumatic and sports-related hip joint injuries, Legg–Calve–Perthes’ disease and slipped capital femoral epiphysis, and the arthritic and septic hip. Intra-articular abnormalities are rarely isolated and are often associated with underlying morphological changes.

This review presents the current concepts of hip arthroscopy in the paediatric and adolescent patient, covering clinical assessment and investigation, indications and results of the experience to date, as well as technical challenges and future directions.

Excessive acetabular cover secondary to a retroverted acetabulum causes pincer impingement, which may cause early osteoarthritis of the hip. Our aim was to determine if there was a relationship between acetabular version and osteoarthritis of the hip. Using image processing and analysis software we studied 117 CT images of the hip in patients aged less than 65 years who had undergone a CT virtual colonoscopy. The mean CT joint space of the 18 hips with acetabular retroversion was narrower compared with the 99 hips with normal acetabular alignment (p < 0.0001). A correlation of r = 0.46 (p < 0.01) was found between right hip acetabular version and the mean right hip joint space and of r = 0.31 (p = 0.02) between left hip acetabular version and the mean left hip joint space. Acetabular retroversion is associated with radiological evidence of osteoarthritis of the hip. An understanding of the mechanical basis of osteoarthritis of the hip allows early treatment of the underlying structural abnormality and prevents progression of the degenerative condition.

Over an eight-month period we prospectively enrolled 122 patients who underwent arthroscopic surgery of the hip for femoroacetabular impingement and met the inclusion criteria for this study. Patients with bilateral hip arthroscopy, avascular necrosis and previous hip surgery were excluded. Ten patients refused to participate leaving 112 in the study. There were 62 women and 50 men. The mean age of the patients was 40.6 yrs (95% confidence interval (CI) 37.7 to 43.5). At arthroscopy, 23 patients underwent osteoplasty only for cam impingement, three underwent rim trimming only for pincer impingement, and 86 underwent both procedures for mixed-type impingement. The mean follow-up was 2.3 years (2.0 to 2.9). The mean modified Harris hip score (HHS) improved from 58 to 84 (mean difference = 24 (95% CI 19 to 28)) and the median patient satisfaction was 9 (1 to 10). Ten patients underwent total hip replacement at a mean of 16 months (8 to 26) after arthroscopy.

The predictors of a better outcome were the pre-operative modified HHS (p = 0.018), joint space narrowing ≥ 2 mm (p = 0.005), and repair of labral pathology instead of debridement (p = 0.032).

Hip arthroscopy for femoroacetabular impingement, accompanied by suitable rehabilitation, gives a good short-term outcome and high patient satisfaction.