Understanding the Ligamentum Teres in Hip Impingement Surgery

The ligamentum teres, or LT, is a small but important structure in the hip joint. It's been getting lots of attention lately, especially in people who have surgery for femoroacetabular impingement (FAI). FAI happens when the ball and socket of the hip joint don't fit together properly, causing pain and limiting movement. When surgeons do a procedure called hip arthroscopy to fix this, they sometimes find that the LT is torn. But what does that mean for the patient? This review looked at how patients feel after surgery and if there are more complications when the LT is torn. The LT is like a rubber band that connects the top of the thigh bone to the socket in the pelvis. It helps keep the hip joint stable and may also help with blood flow. But when it's torn, it might not work as well. Some studies suggest that tearing the LT can lead to worse outcomes after FAI surgery. However, other studies found no difference between patients with an intact LT and those with a torn one.One thing to consider is that not all torn LTs are the same. Some might be partially torn, while others could be completely torn. Also, the LT can tear in different places. These factors could affect how well a patient does after surgery. So, what about complications? The review found that the rate of complications was similar whether the LT was intact or torn. This means that even if the LT is torn, it doesn't necessarily increase the risk of problems after surgery. In the end, the role of the LT in FAI surgery is still not fully understood. More research is needed to figure out how to best treat a torn LT during hip arthroscopy. Until then, surgeons will have to decide on a case-by-case basis.