Effects on acetabular development of resection of the labrum acetabulare (limbus) in the hip joint

The effect of resecting the hip joint limbus on acetabular development was studied. Ten infant Japanese monkeys were used as experimental subjects. The limbus was resected on one side and the developmental effects were observed. The period of observation ranged from 12 to 31 months with a mean of 17 months. After histological examination of the resected limbus, the monkeys were divided into two groups, group A (5 cases) in which the hyaline cartilage had not been resected, and group B (5 cases) in which the hyaline cartilage had been resected. Every 2 months after the operation, each monkey was x-rayed and the acetabular angle, acetabular index, acetabular edge angle and Wiberg's Center-Edge angle were measured and the differences between the resected and unoperated sides were subjected to regression analysis. Neither Group A nor Group B developed acetabular dysplasia.