Acetabular labrum tears: a cause of hip pain and degenerative arthritis.

A torn acetabular labrum causing disabling hip pain has been noted in two patients. One patient had obvious erosion of the articular surfaces of the femoral head and acetabulum corresponding to the location of the displaced torn labrum. Excision of the torn labrum fragments afforded relief of the symptoms. In addition, a torn labrum was found in two surgical procedures for degenerative arthritis of the hip. A torn labrum could be a cause of degenerative hip disease where no preexisting condition is present, ie, slipped epiphysis or infection.