What is a hip labral reconstruction?
A labral reconstruction is a minimally invasive arthroscopic hip surgery where a damaged or deficient labrum is replaced with an allograft (cadaver tissue).
In certain cases, hip labral tears cannot be fixed with a simple labral repair, Dr. Potts may recommend a labral reconstruction. The labrum can be injured in many ways, and sometimes, it can be damaged to the point that there is little to no substance to repair. Too little labral tissue means the labrum can no longer make an adequate seal between the hip’s ball and socket. Under these circumstances, replacing the tissue altogether is sometimes the best course of treatment. This decision is ultimately made at the time of surgery after viewing it with the arthroscopic camera and probing the labrum to assess the quality of the tissue.
Why does the labrum need to be reconstructed?
Having a labrum that functions normally helps preserve the health of your hip. The acetabular labrum is important for the prevention of arthritis, athletic performance, stability and cartilage health. Although repairing the native labrum is preferred, not all labral tears can be repaired. Properly restoring the labrum with labral reconstruction surgery can remove the pain-generating nerve endings and restore biomechanical function.
A video of an acetabular labral reconstruction by Dr. Potts can be viewed below, or on YouTube by clicking here.
