Intra-articular lipoma of the hip

Intra-articular lipoma of the hip is a rare entity, with only two reports published in the English-language literature. We present a case of successful arthroscopic resection of an intra-articular peripheral compartment lipoma in a 69-year-old woman with a coincident labral tear. This woman presented with left hip pain that developed gradually over 2 years and increased over 2 months. MRI showed a fat-intense mass in the anterior aspect of the hip joint, convincing for intra-articular lipoma. Physical examination in the operating room reproduced decreased range of motion and evidence of impingement but with a soft endpoint. Arthroscopy revealed an anterior intrasubstance labral tear, which was debrided. The mass was excised and confirmed as true lipoma on histology. The soft endpoint on examination illustrates that a large lipoma of the hip joint can cause clinical symptoms of impingement in the absence of bony abnormality or trauma.