Arthroscopic Approach to Capsular Laxity of the Hip

Hip pain secondary to capsular laxity alone is an uncommon and infrequent phenomenon. As such, recognizing and diagnosing capsular laxity of the hip can be a very complex and challenging situation for the physician. It is important to understand that there are 2 types of laxity: traumatic and atraumatic. These conditions have several findings clinically that can be identified and may help in the diagnosis. It is believed by most, including the author, that capsular laxity, whether traumatic or atraumatic, plays only a small roll in persistent pain and discomfort in the patient with persistent hip pain. Most experts would agree that the primary cause of a painful hip with associated capsular laxity is a labral tear. It is essential to understand that capsular plication is an adjunct to our surgical armamentarium and may only be indicated in certain patients with known capsular laxity. This article describes 1 technique for capsular plication and/or closure in the face of associated pathologic laxity.