Vascularity and histology of fetal labrum and chondrolabral junction: its relevance to chondrolabral detachment tears

Abstract

In an effort to understand the chondrolabral junction tears, we can conclude that collagen content and fiber orientation may represent the histological basis for the predominance of tears at the anterosuperior region.

The Biomechanical Case for Labral Débridement

“…The vascularity of the fetal labrum has been described in detail [38,50]. When the acetabulum is arbitrarily divided into four quadrants and the capsular and articular portions are considered separately, the capsular side of the labrum is more vascular than the articular side and the number of blood vessels decreases throughout gestation.…”

“…A similar study demonstrated the vascular supply is entirely of capsular origin and that the articularsided vessels penetrate through the labrum toward the joint. Moreover, the labral vascular anatomy is distinct from the acetabular supply [50]. This vascular organization appears to be preserved in adult hips with the capsular side of the labrum containing more blood vessels than the articular side [29].…”

Regenerative Injection Therapy (Prolotherapy) for Hip Labrum Lesions: Rationale and Retrospective Study

“…These studies were carried out, however, in cadavers aged > 40 years, with a mean age much greater. The fetal acetabular labrum has been shown to be abundantly vascularized [20], similar to the perinatal meniscus [21]. The meniscus displays a gradual age-dependent loss of vascularity, progressing from the internal to the external surface [21].…”

Biomechanics, anatomy, pathology, imaging and clinical evaluation of the acetabular labrum: current concepts

“…It is a triangular shaped structure in cross section that forms a soft tissue seal around the articulation of the femoral head with the acetabulum. The collagen at the junction between the articular cartilage and the labrum is oriented perpendicular to the junction in all regions except for the anterosuperior region where the collagen runs parallel 3. The parallel orientation of the collagen fibres at the anterosuperior region of the chondrolabral junction decreases the strength of the labral attachment and creates a relative weakness at this junction where most labral tears occur.…”