Characterization Of Human Anterosuperior Acetabular Depression In Correlation With Labral Tears

Abstract

The common location of acetabular labral tears, in the anterosuperior quadrant, is also the location of a bony depression in the rim of the acetabulum. The loss of bony support in this area of the acetabulum could be an underlying cause to the decrease in labrum strength over a long lifetime. In previous studies, this depression in the anterior acetabular ridge was described as the psoas valley due to the involvement of the iliopsoas tendon in this region. The notch acts as a channel for the tendon to pass through and changes its direction, much like a pulley. The purpose of this study was to analyze the anatomical properties of this depression to determine how it changes between different populations, and if its location correlates to the common location of labral tears. Our study confirmed the results of other studies done with different methodologies.

Variations in the notch dimensions across gender were due to anatomical variation due to gender.

Age and ethnicity had no affect on the anatomical dimensions.

The notch is a congenital bone formation based on individual muscle anatomy.

The notch is located in the same location as acetabular labral tears.

The anterior crest of the notch varied with gender due to females on average being more retroverted than males.

The location of the notch did not vary with age or ethnicity.

The location is based on the anatomy of the ligaments and muscles that control the joint.