title: The labro-acetabular complex.
abstract: The human hip is subjected to several hundred million loading cycles during a lifetime. Hip instability and femoro-acetabular impingement cause damage to the rim of the acetabulum. The acetabular rim is a highly specialized structure known as the labro-acetabular complex. A unidirectional flow of synovial fluid has been identified in this region. The synovial fluid circulation is driven by the bellows-like movement of the zona orbicularis and depends on hip flexion and extension. Surgical repair of the damaged labro-acetabular complex should satisfy two goals. First, the labrum should be preserved or reconstructed when possible. Second, the precipitating cause of the labro-acetabular damage must be addressed.
authors.affiliation: The South West London Elective Orthopaedic Centre, Dorking Road, Epsom, Surrey KT18 7EG, England. richardefield@aol.com
authors.forename: Richard E
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Field
authors.forename: Karthig
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Rajakulendran
mesh_terms: D000077:Acetabulum / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000196:embryology / Q000502:physiology* / Q000601:surgery*; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology; D002358:Cartilage, Articular / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000196:embryology / Q000502:physiology / Q000601:surgery; D006621:Hip Joint / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000196:embryology / Q000502:physiology* / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D016916:Joint Deformities, Acquired / Q000601:surgery; D007592:Joint Diseases / Q000601:surgery*; D019651:Plastic Surgery Procedures