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A quantitative analysis of hip capsular thickness

  • Hip
  • Published:
Knee Surgery, Sports Traumatology, Arthroscopy Aims and scope

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this study was to provide a comprehensive quantitative analysis of capsular thickness adjacent to the acetabular rim in clinically relevant locations.

Methods

Dissections were performed and hip capsular measurements were recorded on 13 non-paired, fresh-frozen cadaveric hemi-pelvises using a coordinate measuring device. Measurements were taken for each clock-face position at 0, 5, 10 and 15 mm distances from the labral edge.

Results

The capsule was consistently thickest at 2 o’clock for each interval from the labrum with a maximum thickness of 8.3 at 10 mm [95 % CI 6.8, 9.8] and 15 mm [95 % CI 6.8, 9.7]. The capsule was noticeably thinner between 4 and 11 o’clock with a minimum thickness of 4.1 mm [95 % CI 3.3, 4.9] at 10 o’clock at the labral edge. Direct comparison between 0 and 5 mm between 9 and 3 o’clock showed that the hip capsule was significantly thicker at 5 mm from the labrum at 9 o’clock (p = 0.027), 10 o’clock (p = 0.032), 1 o’clock (p = 0.003), 2 o’clock (p = 0.001) and 3 o’clock (p = 0.001).

Conclusions

The hip capsule was thickest between the 1 and 2 o’clock positions for all measured distances from the acetabular labrum and reached its maximum thickness at 2 o’clock, which corresponds to the location of the iliofemoral ligament.

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Acknowledgments

The authors would like to acknowledge Grant Dornan, MSc, for his contribution to the statistical analysis of this study and Angelica Wedell for her contribution to the figures.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of BioMedical Engineering, Steadman Philippon Research Institute, 181 West Meadow Drive Suite 1000, Vail, CO, 81657, USA

    Marc J. Philippon, Max P. Michalski, Kevin J. Campbell, Matthew T. Rasmussen, Mary T. Goldsmith, Brian M. Devitt, Coen A. Wijdicks & Robert F. LaPrade

  2. The Steadman Clinic, Vail, CO, USA

    Marc J. Philippon & Robert F. LaPrade

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  1. Marc J. Philippon
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  2. Max P. Michalski
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  3. Kevin J. Campbell
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Correspondence to Marc J. Philippon.

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Philippon, M.J., Michalski, M.P., Campbell, K.J. et al. A quantitative analysis of hip capsular thickness. Knee Surg Sports Traumatol Arthrosc 23, 2548–2553 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00167-014-3030-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00167-014-3030-5

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