The ligamentum teres (LT) has been studied since the 19th century, and its anatomy and biomechanical function have been well described. Recent advancements in hip arthroscopy have caused increased awareness of LT pathology. Previous reports have estimated the incidence of LT tears during hip arthroscopy to be 4% to 51%, and LT tears have been estimated to be the third most common reason for hip pain in athletes. Biomechanical studies have shown the LT's role in stability of the hip. Despite the growing body of literature on LT anatomy and function, its role as a causative factor in hip pain and hip instability has yet to be clearly defined, and the treatment of LT tears remains controversial. However, in certain cases where hip subluxation and overt instability are related to a traumatic full-thickness tear of the LT, reconstruction of the ligamentum has been suggested. We describe a technique for arthroscopic LT reconstruction using either a semitendinosus autograft or allograft in the supine position.

BackgroundMultimodal analgesia following total hip arthroplasty has been shown to improve patient satisfaction, participation with physical therapy, and allow early return to self care. Liposomal bupivacaine is a formulation of local anesthetic which has the potential to provide anesthesia for up to 72 hours following administration. The purpose of this study was to compare the effectiveness of liposomal bupivacaine with bupivacaine following total hip arthroplasty.MethodsA retrospective chart review was performed on 28 patients undergoing total hip arthroplasty or hip resurfacing who received intraoperative administration of liposomal bupivacaine. A control group of 30 patients who had previously undergone total hip arthroplasty or hip resurfacing and had received intraoperative administration of bupivacaine also underwent a chart review. Length of stay, post-operative opioid use, and pain scores were compared for both groups.ResultsThe average length of stay in the study group was 1.93 days and the control group length of stay was 2.47 days (p ≤ 0.05). Morphine equivalent use was less in the study group during the first 24 hours compared to the control group (p ≤0.05). During the second and third 24 hours the morphine equivalent use difference was not statistically significant. Visual analogue scores were not significantly different between groups at any time point.ConclusionLiposomal bupivacaine administration during total hip arthroplasty appears to decrease the need for opioid use post operatively and decrease length of stay. The results of this study justify the need for a well-designed randomized controlled trial utilizing liposomal bupivacaine as part of multimodal analgesia during THA.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1186/1471-2474-15-310) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.