Original article Microinstability of the hip: a previously unrecognized pathology Ioanna Bolia 1 The role of the hip joint capsule has gained par - Jorge Chahla 1 ticular research interest during the last years, and Renato Locks 1 its repair or reconstruction during hip arthro - Karen Briggs 1 scopy is considered necessary in order to avoid Marc J. Philippon 1,2 iatrogenic hip microinstability. Various capsular closure/plication techniques have been devel - oped towards this direction with encouraging re - 1 Steadman Philippon Research Institute, Colorado, USA sults. 2 The Steadman Clinic, Colorado, USA Level of evidence: V. KEY WORDS: hip arthroscopy, hip microinstability, hip Corresponding author: dysplasia. Marc J. Philippon, MD Steadman Philippon Research Institute The Steadman Clinic Introduction 181 West Meadow Drive, Suite 400 Vail, Colorado 81657, USA The native hip is a particularly constrained joint with a E-mail:
[email protected] powerful suction seal that is imperative for optimal 1,2 function of the joint . The hip capsule is one of the most important static stabilizers of the hip joint 3 and Summary disruption or debridement of the capsule during hip arthroscopy is a potential contributor to postoperative Background : Hip microinstability is an estab - iatrogenic hip instability. Therefore, hip surgeons must lished diagnosis; however, its occurrence is still be thoughtful of hip capsule management as hip debated by many physicians. Diagnosis of hip mi - arthroscopic procedures are increasing exponentially 4. croinstability is often challenging, due to a lack of Unlike other joints in the anatomy, hip instability is specific signs or symptoms, and patients may re - generally defined as extra-physiologic hip motion that main undiagnosed for long periods.