Set of Classifications

General Classification of LCF Pathology

Version: 20240420

Annotation

Analysis of literature data and our own morphological observations allowed us to propose a General Classification of LCF Pathology.

Introduction

In Russia, the initial attempts to classify pathology of the ligamentum capitis femoris (LCF) were made by morphologists. L.I. Gaevskaya distinguished three types of LCF: 1) long and thick (length 41–51 mm, thickness 5 mm), 2) short and thin (length 10–20 mm, thickness 1 mm), 3) long and of small thickness (length 43–45 mm, with a thickness of 3 mm, and length 28–30 mm with a thickness of 4–5 mm) (1954ГаевскаяЛИ). V.V. Kovanov, A.A. Travin identified three varieties of histological structure of LCF: 1) with a predominance of loose connective tissue; 2) with a predominance of dense connective tissue; 3) with a uniform distribution of loose and dense connective tissue (1963КовановВВ_ТравинАА).

The development of arthroscopic surgery has made it possible to identify various, previously undescribed types of LCF pathology, which prompted the development of various modern classifications based on intraoperative observations (1997GrayAJ_VillarRN; 2001RaoJ_VillarRN; 2010CerezalL_Pérez-CarroL; 2011BotserIB_DombBG; 2015SalasAP_O'DonnellJ M; 2017DevittBM_O'DonnellJM; 2018O'DonnellJM_AroraM). Analysis of literature data and our own morphological observations allowed us to propose a General Classification of the Ligamentum Teres Pathology, which has the form of a collection of classifiers (2020ArkhipovSV), as well as a Classification of Functions of the Ligamentum Teres (2020ArkhipovSV). The classification is intended to systematize pathology of LCF, assist in the development of general approaches to its description, registration, analysis, and treatment.

LCF pathology may be caused by local processes and injuries, as well as by diseases of the entire body, individual organs, or systems. Due to this, the systematic classification of all possible changes is challenging. In our collection, we have used terminology accepted in medicine and biology, applying term elements from various classifications: systematic, histological, morphological, traumatological, topographic, and functional.

Catalog. General Classification of LCF Pathology

DOMAINS OF LCF PATHOLOGY

TYPES OF LCF PATHOLOGY

CHARACTER OF LCF PATHOLOGY

FACTORS CAUSING OF LCF PATHOLOGY

VARIANTS OF LCF PATHOLOGY

PHASES OF LCF PATHOLOGY

LOCALIZATION OF LCF PATHOLOGY

LOCALIZATION OFPATHOLOGY IN THE DISTAL ATTACHMENT AREA OF LCF

LOCALIZATION OFPATHOLOGY IN THE PROXIMAL ATTACHMENT AREA OF LCF

LOCALIZATIONOF PATHOLOGY IN THE DISTAL PART OF LCF

LOCALIZATION OFPATHOLOGY IN THE PROXIMAL PART OF LCF

TYPE OF LCF INJURY

SUBTYPE OF LCF INJURY

MECHANISM OF LCF INJURY

DIRECT MECHANISM OF LCF INJURY

INDIRECT MECHANISM OF LCF INJURY

COMBINED MECHANISM OF LCF INJURY

ENERGY OF LCF INJURY

LCF INJURIES FROM THE TYPE OF ITS DEFORMATION

MAIN TYPES OF LCF INJURY

SUBTYPE OF COMPLETE LCF INJURY

SUBTYPE OF PARTIAL LCF INJURY

MORPHOLOGY OF LCF

HISTOLOGICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF LCF ATTACHMENT SITES

Pathology of the Vascular System OF LCF

Pathology of the Nervous System OF LCF

Typesof LCF Infection

VARIETIES OF LOCAL INFECTIOUS INVOLVEMENT OF LCF

RESULT OF PATHOLOGICAL CHANGE OF LCF

PATHOMORPHOLOGICAL CHANGES OF LCF

NECROSIS OF LCF

METAPLASIA OF LCF

Neoplasms OF LCF

CHARACTERISTICS OF LCFCHANGES

CHANGESIN THE MECHANICAL PROPERTIES OF LCF

CHANGING THE SPATIAL POSITION OF LCF

CHANGING OF GEOMETRICAL PROPERTIES OF LCF

PATHOLOGY OF LCF ATTACHMENT AREAS

Types of Pathology of LCF Attachment Area

Variants of Pathology of LCF Attachment Area

Pathology of the Distal Attachment Area of LCF

TOPOGORAPHY OF THE ACETABULAR CANAL

PATHOLOGY OF THE ACETABULAR CANAL

MAIN FUNCTIONS OF LCF

Effects of the Mechanical Function of LCF

ALTERNATIVE TYPES OF LCF FUNCTIONS

FUNCTIONS OF LCF

Degrees of LCF Function Performance

TYPES OF LCF DYSFUNCTIONS

Magnitude of LCF Load

Reasons for Increased Load on LCF

Reasons for Decreased Load on LCF

TYPES OF LCF RECONSTRUCTION

SUBTYPES OF LCF RECONSTRUCTION

Conclusion

We believe that the use of the provided classifiers will allow for a more comprehensive description of LCF pathology, aid in determining rational methods of treatment and restoration of its function, and assist in predicting the outcomes of hip joint diseases and injuries.

References

Гаевская ЛИ. Топографо-анатомические особенности связочного аппарата тазобедренного сустава и их значение для клиники: дис. ... канд. мед. наук. Ленинград, 1954.

Кованов ВВ, Травин АА. Хирургическая анатомия нижних конечностей. Москва, 1963. [1lib.sk]

Arkhipov SV. Classification of functions of the ligamentum teres. Ligamentum teres - ligamentum incognitum. 07.06.2020. DOI:10.13140/RG.2.2.32089.34403 [researchgate.net]

Arkhipov SV. General classification of the ligamentum teres pathology. Vers. 2.0.1, 41 sections, 343 paragraphs and subparagraphs. Update: 07.06.2020. DOI:10.13140/RG.2.2.25378.45769 [researchgate.net]

Botser IB, Martin DE, Stout CE, Domb BG. Tears of the ligamentum teres: prevalence in hip arthroscopy using 2 classification systems. Am J Sports Med. 2011;39(1):117S-25S. [journals.sagepub.com]

Cerezal L, Kassarjian A, Canga A, Dobado MC, Montero JA, Llopis E, Pérez-Carro L. Anatomy, biomechanics, imaging, and management of ligamentum teres injuries. Radiographics. 2010;30(6):1637-51. [pubs.rsna.org]

Devitt B.M., Smith B., Stapf R., Jo S., O’Donnell JM: The reliability of commonly used arthroscopic classifications of ligamentum teres pathology. J Hip Preserv Surg 2017;4(2):187-93. [scholar.google]

Gray AJ, Villar RN. The ligamentum teres of the hip: an arthroscopic classification of its pathology. Arthroscopy: The Journal of Arthroscopic & Related Surgery. 1997;13(5):575-8. [sciencedirect.com]

O’Donnell JM, Devitt BM, Arora M. The role of the ligamentum teres in the adult hip: redundant or relevant? A review. Journal of hip preservation surgery 2018;5(1):15-22. [academic.oup.com]

Rao J, Zhou YX, Villar RN. Injury to the ligamentum teres: mechanism, findings, and results of treatment. Clin Sports Med 2001;20(4):791-9. [sportsmed.theclinics.com]

Salas AP, O’Donnell JM. Ligamentum teres injuries - an observational study of a proposed new arthroscopic classification. J Hip Preserv Surg. 2015;2(3):258-264. [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]

Keywords

ligamentum capitis femoris, ligamentum teres, ligament of head of femur, classification, pathology

External links

Arkhipov SV. General Classification of LCF Pathology; Version: 20240420. About round ligament of femur (ligament of head of femur), 2024.04.20. [roundligament.blogspot.com]

In translating to English, the author is assisted by ChatGPT (version 3.5) and the Google Translate service.

BLOG CONTENT

CATALOGS AND BIBLIOGRAPHIES

Comments

LCF in 2026 (July)

LCF in 2026 (July ) (Quotes from articles and books published in July 2026 mentioning the ligamentum capitis femoris) Çetik, R. M., Bakırcıoğlu, S., Büyükdoğan, K., Çağlar, Ö., Atay, Ö. A., & Atilla, B. (2026). Cam-type femoro-acetabular impingement: Mid-term functional results and joint awareness of arthroscopic, mini-open and surgical dislocation techniques. Acta Medica , 57 (2), 123-131. [i] actamedica.org Khan, M. Y., Khan, R., Shaikh, H., Persaud, N. A., Rama, S., & Khan, Y. (2026). Evolution of Hip Arthroscopy in Modern Orthopedic Practice. Cureus , 18 (6). [ii] cureus.com Sanders, W. J., Ji, X. P., & Jablonski, N. G. (2026). New remains of Stegodon zhaotongensis (Proboscidea, Stegodontidae) from the Late Miocene site of Shuitangba, Yunnan Province, China. Journal of Mammalian Evolution , 33 (3), 33. [iii] link.springer.com Randelli, F. (2026...

1858IvanovAA

Ivanov A.A., Jacob’s Wrestling with God (1849-1858) . Depicting the circumstances and mechanism of the ligamentum capitis femoris (LCF) injury based on the description in the Book of Genesis: 25 And Jacob was left alone; and there wrestled a man with him until the breaking of the day. 26 And when he saw that he could not pre vail against him, he struck against the hollow of his thigh ; and the hollow of Jacob's thigh was put out of joint, as he was wrestling with him. … 33 Therefore do the children of Israel not eat the sinew which shrank, which is upon the hollow of the thigh, unto this day; because he struck against the hollow of Jacob's thigh on the sinew that shrank. ( 1922LeeserI , Genesis (Bereshit) 32:25-26,33) More about the plot in our work: Ninth month, eleventh day ( 2024 АрхиповСВ. Девятый месяц, одиннадцатый день ). Alexander Ivanov – Jacob’s Wrestling with God (1849-1858); original in the ekzeget.ru col...

Human LCF intersection

HUMAN LCF INTERSECTION In the south of China, in the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, the archaeological Neolithic site of Dingsishan was investigated. Burials of 355 people were found in this place. The authors of the article (2024YeZ_LiFJ) identified 91 skeletons with traces of manipulations with the remains. They are attributed to burials of the Dingsishan III-IV phase, aged 8.0-4.5 thousand years. 13 notches were found on the proximal part of various femurs. « Cutmarks on the femoral head, neck and intertrochanteric line, as well as along the medial linea aspera of the femoral shaft, suggest that soft tissue around the hip, including the iliofemoral ligament and the iliacus and adductor muscles, was severed to disarticulate the joint.» This and other postmortem bone injuries «... suggests that corpse treatment at Dingsishan included disarticulation » (2024YeZ_LiFJ). Figure 4 of the cited article shows the distribution and direction of cutmarks on human skeletons from Dingx...

80-58bcApollonius Citiensis

Fragment from the treatise Apollonius Citiensis Commentary on the Hippocrates’ book On Joints ( Περὶ αρθρων π ραγματεὶα , 80-58 BC). The author notes the possibility of damage to the ligamentum capitis femoris (LCF) during hip dislocation. See our commentary at the link: 80-58bcApollonius Citiensis [Rus], and 2020ArkhipovSV_ProlyginaIV . Quote. [Grc] Περὶ αρθρων π ραγματεὶα . Βιβλιον γ ʹ . (original source: 1965KolleschJ_KudlienF, pp. 86, 88) Translation [Eng] Commentary On Joints ( Commentary on the Hippocrates’ book On Joints). Book 3. If the dislocated and displaced hip could not remain in place, then the physician [Hippocrates] would have clearly indicated the incurability of this case, so that we would not be led astray. Don't those who hold the opposite opinion know about the nature of joints, ligaments and the teachings about these things in general? After all, the physician considered the cause of the mild or, on the contrary, complex displacement and ...

911-612bcK2453

Fragment of the text of clay tablet K 2453 (Nineveh; ca. 911-612 BC; maybe 5000-4000 BC). A recommendation for a ritual or magical act may mention the sheep's ligamentum capitis femoris (LCF). See our commentary at the link: 911-612bcK2453 [Rus]. Quote [Akk] Clay tablet К 2453 (original source: photo by Ashurbanipal Library Project cdli.mpiwg-berlin.mpg.de , text: 1906 ThompsonRC , plate. 12). Translation [Eng] Clay tablet К 2453 (reverse ) 42. (if a man’s leg is affected) SA ÚR UDU.NITÁ ša GÙB teleqqe you take the sinew from the left thigh of a sheep ( original source: 1992RothMT , p. 312). ( original source: Cuneiform Digital Library Initiative cdli.mpiwg-berlin.mpg.de ) External links Clay tablet; CT 23, pl. 05-14, K 02453 + (P365736). Nineveh (mod. Kuyunjik), Neo-Assyrian period (ca. 911-612 BC). [ cdli.mpiwg-berlin.mpg.de , ebl.lmu.de ] Thompson RC. Cuneiform Texts. Cuneiform Texts from Babylonian Tablets in the British Museum. P...

Vertebrates

VERTEBRATES According to the molecular clock, a specific method for dating phylogenetic events, vertebrates (Vertebrata) separated from arthropods (Arthropoda) 976±97 Ma (2004HedgesSB_ShoeJL). The latter began to dominate in species diversity with the Cambrian burst of radiation, which occurred 520 Ma (2010EdgecombeGD). This ratio in the fauna of the Earth is still preserved. Approximately 525 Ma, the phylum Chordates separated from the group of bilaterally symmetrical animals (1995ChenJY_ZhouGQ). In turn, the evolution of chordate organisms led to the formation of the first vertebrates at least 500 Ma, from which the jawed mouths 450-400 Ma descended, becoming the ancestors of the placoderms or "armored" fish (Placodermi) (1979 НаумовНП _ КарташевНН ). Sculptural reconstruction of the placoderm Coccosteus from the order Arthrodires, Middle Devonian, 393.3-382.7 Ma ; exposition of the Orlov Paleontological Museum (Moscow); photo by the author. The first cartilaginou...

1894KeithA

A fragment from the article by Keith A. The ligaments of the catarrhine monkeys, with references to corresponding structures in man (1894). The paper discusses the development, anatomy, and presence of the ligamentum capitis femoris (LCF) in various monkeys. The author found in an experiment that the gibbon's LCF strength is more than 11 kg. For reference: the black-handed gibbon (Hylobates agilis) can weigh up to 8 kg ( wikipedia.org ), and the white-handed gibbon (Hylobates lar) weighs 5-7 kg ( sakhalinzoo.ru ). Quote pp. 1 58-159. Ligaments of the Hip-Joint. – Professor Bischoff (1) observed that the ligamentum teres of the hip-joint was well developed in the Gorilla. This observation has several times been verified in the Chimpanzee: Owen (2) and Langer (3) found it absent in the Orang, although traces were present. In the Gibbon it is invariably present, and after the limb was severed from the trunk by all but the ligamentum teres, I found it sustained a weight of 25 ...

1176-1178(a)Rambam

Fragments from the book Rambam. Mishneh Torah. Sefer Shofetim, Negative Mitzvot (1176-1178). The treatise Mishneh Torah – legal code, work of Jewish law, its parts Sefer Shofetim (Kings and Wars) and Negative Mitzvot ( Negative Commandments ) was written between about 1176-1178 years in Egypt ( 1sefaria.org , 2sefaria.org ). The author mentions the pathology of ligamentum capitis femoris (LCF, גיד) in humans and points out the presence of this structure in animals. See our commentary at the link: 1176-1178(a)Rambam [Rus]. Quote 1. [Heb] Mishneh Torah. Sefer Shofetim, 9.1 (original source: sefaria.org ) Quote 2. [Heb] Mishneh Torah. Negative Mitzvot, 183 (original source: sefaria.org ) Translation Quote 1. [Eng] Mishneh Torah. Laws of Kings and Wars (The Book of Judges ) , 9.1-3 9.1 Adam, the first man, was commanded with six commandments: 1) idolatry, 2) “blessing” (euphemistically) the Name (of G-d), 3) murder, 4) illicit sexual relations, 5) thievery...

1869BigelowHJ

Fragments from the book Bigelow HJ. The mechanism of dislocation and fracture of the hip (1869). The author discusses broken of the ligamentum capitis femoris (LCF) in hip dislocations. Quote p. 10 In the spring of 1861, having been led to expose a joint, the luxation of which had been the subject of a lecture, I was agreeably surprised to observe the simple action of the ligament, - a simplicity which subsequent experience has confirmed, and which strikingly explains the phenomena observed in the living subject (1). The dislocated joint alluded to presented on examination the following appearances. 1. Great laceration of the muscles about the joint. 2. The ligamentum teres broken . 3. Laceration of the inner, outer, and lower parts of the capsule. 4. The anterior and upper parts of the capsule uninjured, and presenting a strong fibrous band, fan-shaped and forked. Quote p. 18 FIG. 1. — The Y ligament, showing its inner and outer fasciculi. The form...

Inferior Portal. Part 1.

Original in Russian is available at the link: Нижний портал. Часть 1. below is a machine translation edited by a non-native speaker ( version dated 03/02/2025 ) . INFERIOR PORTAL FOR HIP ARTHROSCOPY: A PILOT STUDY PART 1. Background and Hypothesis Arkhipov S.V., Independent Researcher, Joensuu, Finland Abstract: The article presents, theoretically and graphically substantiates the technique of a new arthroscopic approach to the central compartment of the hip joint. It is proposed to introduce the optical system of the arthroscope from below through the acetabular notch without traction. Similar approaches were used for puncture, arthroscopy, arthrography, and arthrotomy of the hip joint. Diagnostics using the described lower portal will exclude complications caused by distraction of the leg and compression of the perineal support during surgery. CONTENTS PART 1. Background and Hypothesis [1] . Introduction [2] . Passage through t...

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