The posterior capsule is distended in dysplastic hips, but the anterior capsule is not

Purpose In the setting of acetabular dysplasia, the increased translational motion of the femur may damage the labrum and cartilage, as well as stretch the capsule. The purpose of the study was to investigate the relationship between the acetabular coverage and the capsular stiffness by assessing the distension of anterior and posterior joint recesses on the hip computed tomography arthrography. Methods One hundred thirty-three patients (138 hips) with a median age of 36 years (range 18-50 years) who received the computed tomography arthrography for evaluation of nonarthritic hip pain in our institute between 2015 and 2017 were retrospectively reviewed. The maximal distance between the anterior/posterior capsule and the anterior femoral head-neck junction/posterior femoral head on the axial imaging of computed tomography arthrography was defined as the width of anterior/posterior joint recess. The width of anterior/posterior joint recess was adjusted with the diameter of the femoral head and was then compared between acetabular dysplasia (lateral center-edge angle < 25 degrees), normal acetabulum (lateral center-edge angle between 25 and 39 degrees), and deep acetabulum (lateral center-edge angle > 39 degrees). In addition, the standard univariate linear regression analysis was used to investigate the relationship between the adjusted width of anterior/posterior joint recess and anterior/posterior coverage of the hip, determined by the anterior/posterior wall index. Results The adjusted width of posterior joint recess was significantly greater in the acetabular dysplasia group than the normal acetabulum and deep acetabulum groups (p < 0.01 and p = 0.02, respectively). There was no significant difference of the adjusted width of anterior joint recess between the groups (n.s.). The adjusted width of posterior joint recess had a significant but weak negative correlation with the anterior wall index (r = - 0.25, p < 0.001), and no correlation with the posterior wall index (r = - 0.0004, n.s.). There was no significant correlation between the adjusted width of anterior joint recess and the anterior/posterior wall index (r = 0.05, n.s./r = 0.07, n.s.). Conclusions The distension of posterior capsule on the computed tomography arthrography was significantly greater in acetabular dysplasia. In addition, there was a significant but weak negative correlation between the distension of posterior capsule and the anterior coverage of the hip. It indicated a looser posterior capsule was observed in a dysplastic hip. The relevance of posterior capsular laxity to clinical outcomes warrants further investigation. Given the fact that the distension of anterior capsule was not significantly higher in acetabular dysplasia, the need of anterior capsular plication in a dysplastic hip should be carefully evaluated.