One of the most complex joints is the hip joint. This delicate joint lies deep in the body. The hip joint comprises a cup and a ball, which must fit together. When they don’t, this condition is known as Femoroacetabular Impingement or FAI.
FAI is a common cause for severe hip pain in adolescents and adults. It’s also a possible etiology of early hip arthritis.
There are two types of FAI: the Cam type and the Pincer type. In Cam type FAI, the ball is oval shaped rather than round. With continued hip rotation due to activity, it does not fit fully into the round cup. This mismatch between the oval shaped head and the round cup eventually can tear the acetabular labrum and can damage the acetabular cartilage. The acetabular labrum is believed to be associated with hip stability.
Meanwhile, Pincer type of FAI originates on the acetabular side. The cup over covers the ball, thereby preventing the ball from fitting properly into the cup. Thus, this can lead to tearing of the acetabular labrum and cartilage.
Over time, an individual can experience labral tear due to wear and tear. As the labrum is innervated, it can cause pain, dysfunction and loss of activity when torn. However, labral tear can be treated arthroscopically with the help of an expert orthopedic surgeon, such as Dr. Brain J. White, M.D. at Western Orthopedics.
Dr. White specializes in hip disorders and hip surgery. He is especially known for his remarkable work in the area of hip labral reconstruction.
Labral reconstruction of the hip is an advanced, relatively new surgical technique with great results. It entails the use of a graft (incorporated into the hip) for restoring the normal biomechanics of the native labrum.
According to Dr. White’s findings, some labral repairs don’t heal properly. This requires the performance of labral reconstruction.
Dr. White identified the following problematic areas:
- When a previous hip arthroscopy has failed.
- Labrum is too damaged to allow for a successful repair.
- Very large labrums (more than 10 mm).
- Very small labrums (2mm)
The above areas often lead to unsuccessful hip arthroscopy outcome, and require the need to perform labral reconstruction surgery.
In addition, he recommends labral repair to those who have healthy labral tissue, along with a good potential for healing. Meanwhile, labral reconstruction is for a poor quality labrum. Furthermore, anyone with an excessively torn labrum and damaged cartridge needs complete resection.
If you want to know whether you are the right candidate for labral reconstruction, contact
Dr. White. Dr. White is aware of the emotional, mental and financial turmoil of hip pain and surgeries. He goes the extra mile to ensure his patients receive the best possible care.
