In this in vitro study of the
hip joint we examined which soft tissues act as primary and secondary
passive rotational restraints when the hip joint is functionally
loaded. A total of nine cadaveric left hips were mounted in a testing
rig that allowed the application of forces, torques and rotations
in all six degrees of freedom. The hip was rotated throughout a
complete range of movement (ROM) and the contributions of the iliofemoral
(medial and lateral arms), pubofemoral and ischiofemoral ligaments
and the ligamentum teres to rotational restraint was determined
by resecting a ligament and measuring the reduced torque required
to achieve the same angular position as before resection. The contribution
from the acetabular labrum was also measured. Each of the capsular
ligaments acted as the primary hip rotation restraint somewhere
within the complete ROM, and the ligamentum teres acted as a secondary
restraint in high flexion, adduction and external rotation. The
iliofemoral lateral arm and the ischiofemoral ligaments were primary
restraints in two-thirds of the positions tested. Appreciation of
the importance of these structures in preventing excessive hip rotation
and subsequent impingement/instability may be relevant for surgeons
undertaking both
