Decision Making for Labral Treatment in the Hip: Repair Versus Débridement Versus Reconstruction

The role and function of the acetabular labrum have been studied extensively in the past decade. Recent studies have proposed that, in addition to causing pain and mechanical symptoms, labral tears may accelerate arthritis. Labral preservation is believed to be important because of the role the labrum plays in maintaining a healthy joint. Treatment of the acetabular labrum is becoming one of the fastest growing fields in orthopaedics; therefore, the treatment decision-making process must be refined. Currently, three commonly practiced labral treatments are available: repair, débridement, and reconstruction. Arguments for and against each treatment option exist in the literature. Reviewing the currently proposed indicators for labral tear treatments in conjunction with the treatment procedures yields a thorough decision-making guide for choosing the appropriate labral procedure.