The Effect of Ligamentum Teres Integrity on Hip Scores

Abstract

We aimed to compare the clinical functioning of the hips with an intact Ligamentum Teres (LT) to ruptured LT. Patients with resected LT have feelings of instability and discomfort. The effect of LT on hip stability in dysplastic hips and hyperlaxity has been emphasized before. Existence of sensory nerve endings demonstrates that LT has a function in joint proprioception and nociception. LT test was conducted to 92 consecutive patients with Grade 2-3 coxarthrosis. Pain on either internal or external rotation is consistent with a positive LT test result. Following LT test, Hip disability and osteoarthritis outcome score (HOOS) and Harris Hip Score (HHS) were conducted to all of the patients. Each patient underwent MRI Scanning of the involved hip. The efficacy of LT test was evaluated in comparison to MRI findings, sensitivity of the test was 87.37 % and spesificity was 73.47 positive and negative predictive values were found to be 74.51 % nd 80.43 % respectively. 36 hips which had intact LT according to MRI and LT test (Group 1) was compared to the 38 hips with ruptured LT in both LT test and MRI (Group 2) regarding HOOS and Harris Hip Scores. HOOS and Harris Hip Scores of Group 1 were found to be significantly higher than Group 2. As far as we know from the literature this is the first clinical study to investigate the effect of LT integrity on hip scores by comparing hips with ruptured LT to hips with intact LT.