The Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery, Vol 61, Issue 4 510-514, Copyright © 1979 by Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery, Inc
Intra-articular acetabular labrum: a possible etiological factor in certain cases of osteoarthritis of the hip
WH Harris, RB Bourne and I Oh
In eight patients with so-called idiopathic degenerative arthritis of the
hip the acetabular labrum, at surgery, was found to lie in the articulation
between the femoral head and the acetabulum. In none of the patients was
there a history or roentgenographic evidence of congenital dysplasia or
congenital dislocation. None of the patients had had a closed reduction or
manipulation of the hip during infancy, childhood, or adolescence. No
patient had had a traumatic dislocation. The findings suggest that the
intra-articular labrum was a developmental abnormality and we postulate
that this abnormality was the cause of the degenerative arthritis.