Acetabular dysplasia and osteoarthritis developed by an eversion of the acetabular labrum

To investigate adverse effects of acetabular labrumectomy on the growth and development of the acetabulum, the author subjected the hip joints of 20 young rapidly growing dogs to eversion of the acetabular labrum. It was found to produce acetabular dysplasia. The acetabulum gradually became shallower and more vertically oriented, and the femoral head gradually subluxed but never dislocated. The radiographic appearance of the hip dysplasia was similar to that seen in humans. Histologically, a substantial degenerative change in articular cartilage was observed in the subluxed hip, without any evidence of degenerative arthritis radiologically. When operating on congenital dislocation of the hip, a complete excision or eversion of the acetabular labrum should be avoided. Radial splitting of the acetabular labrum may safely avoid the risk of violating the acetabular epiphyseal cartilage.