International Clinical and Medical Case Reports Journal (ISSN: 2832-5788) | Volume 5, Issue 6 | Review Article | Open Access DOI
Ryan Marra*
Ryan Marra, OMS-2*, Matthew Marling, OMS-2, Justin Chen, OMS-2, David Handron, OMS-2, Andrew Seyler, OMS-2, Timothy Adams, OMS-2 and Mark Sangimino, MD
Duquesne University Nasuti College of Osteopathic Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
*Correspondence to: Ryan Marra
Fulltext PDFIntroduction: Chronic acetabular labral tears are a significant source of hip pain, mechanical dysfunction, and progressive joint degeneration in young and active patients. Arthroscopic labral reconstruction has emerged as an effective hip preservation strategy for irreparable labral pathology; however, optimal graft selection remains controversial. This systematic review evaluated clinical outcomes, survivorship, and complications following arthroscopic hip labral reconstruction using allograft versus autograft tissue in patients with chronic labral tears.
Methods: A systematic review was performed according to PRISMA guidelines using PubMed/MEDLINE, Embase, Scopus, and Cochrane Library databases. Studies published after 2001 evaluating arthroscopic labral reconstruction with either autograft or allograft tissue were included. Eligible investigations reported at least one quantifiable postoperative outcome, including patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs), revision surgery, complications, graft failure, or conversion to total hip arthroplasty (THA). Data extraction and study screening were independently performed by multiple reviewers. Owing to heterogeneity in graft types, surgical techniques, and outcome reporting, qualitative synthesis was primarily conducted.
Results: Thirteen studies encompassing 614 patients met inclusion criteria. The predominant indication for reconstruction was femoroacetabular impingement–associated irreparable labral pathology. Common autografts included iliotibial band, hamstring tendon, rectus femoris tendon, and capsular tissue, whereas allografts included hamstring tendon, fascia lata, tibialis anterior tendon, peroneus longus tendon, and meniscal grafts. Both graft types demonstrated substantial postoperative improvement in validated PROMs, including modified Harris Hip Score, Hip Outcome Score, and iHOT measures. Comparative studies consistently demonstrated no significant differences in functional outcomes between allograft and autograft reconstruction. Patient satisfaction was higher with allograft reconstruction in one comparative cohort. Overall revision and THA conversion rates remained low at mid-term follow-up, although one large comparative study demonstrated a higher revision rate in allograft patients (23.6% vs 7.3%). Complication rates were low across all studies, with no reported graft rejection or disease transmission. Autograft reconstruction introduced potential donor-site morbidity, while local capsular autograft techniques appeared to mitigate harvest-related complications.
Discussion: Arthroscopic hip labral reconstruction provides reliable improvement in pain, hip function, and joint preservation in patients with chronic irreparable labral tears regardless of graft source. Current evidence demonstrates comparable clinical outcomes between autograft and allograft reconstruction, suggesting that restoration of hip biomechanics and correction of underlying pathology may be more important determinants of success than graft selection alone. Although allograft use may reduce donor-site morbidity and operative burden, potential differences in revision risk warrant further investigation. High-quality prospective comparative studies with long-term follow-up are needed to better define graft-specific durability and optimize patient selection.
Labral reconstruction; Arthroscopic hip; Allograft; Chronic hip
Ryan Marra, Matthew Marling, Justin Chen, David Handron,; Andrew Seyler, Timothy Adams, Mark Sangimino. Outcomes of Arthroscopic Hip Labral Reconstruction Using Allograft Versus Autograft Tissue for Chronic Labral Tears: A Systematic Review. Int Clinc Med Case Rep Jour. 2026;5(6):1-22.