Skip to main content

1968TrevorD

 

Content



[i] Annotation

Fragments from the book: Trevor D. The place of the Hey Groves-Colonna operation in the treatment of congenital dislocation of the hip (1968). The author discusses E. Hey Groves's operation for reconstruction of the ligamentum capitis femoris (LCF) in the reduction of congenital hip dislocation. The text in Russian is available at the following link: 1968TrevorD.


Quote, pp. 241-243.

THE LATE PROFESSOR HEY GROVES, one-time Professor of Surgery in the University of Bristol, a Surgeon of the Bristol General Hospital, and a Vice-President of the Royal College of Surgeons of England, in his Bradshaw Lecture at the College (1926) stated of all the joints in the body the hip is perhaps the most important, and in regards to its ailments it is certainly the most difficult for treatment'. Further, he mentioned that ' to replace and retain the dislocated hip, to establish correct relations between an ill-formed femoral head and an equally ill-developed acetabulum is a true orthopaedic problem. These statements made in 1926 are still true to-day.

Hey Groves lamented that little had been done for children with congenital dislocation of the hip between the ages of four and 14; below four he considered that the then current practice of manipulative reduction followed by immobilization in a plaster of Paris spica for a sufficient length of time was adequate; subsequent studies have shown that this opinion was unduly optimistic. Above 14 he considered reconstruction of the dislocated hip was not possible, with which there is general agreement. But between four and 14 years of age he maintained that much could and should be done for these children, but only by operative means.

He outlined a surgical programme which was later published in the British Journal of Surgery (1926), and also in the Robert Jones Birthday Volume (1928). He recommended open replacement of the femoral head, and, if stable into a well-formed socket, then plaster of Paris immobilization for several months. If the femoral head could not be contained the acetabulum should be improved by a kind of shelf-operation or deepened sufficiently by reaming to receive the femoral head. Hey Groves found the latter manoeuvre produced stability, but as the femoral head, which had probably some areas of erosion and had poor articular cartilage, was placed in actual contact with the acetabulum, denuded of its articular cartilage with raw bleeding osseous walls, little wonder that complete stiffness occurred. Thereupon, he developed his procedure further by recommending that the acetabulum should be deepened as before, as this was the best method of producing stability, but that there should be some structure placed between the untouched femoral head and the raw surface of the acetabulum, namely the joint capsule which was lined on its inner surface by smooth synovial membrane. Hey Groves had observed a constriction of the capsule in children of this age-range who had been walking, namely the hour-glass; thus he advised that the joint capsule should be dissected from its surroundings right down proximally to the hour-glass, that is between the hour-glass and the acetabulum; there it should be divided and in doing so the ligamentum teres, if present, also inevitably divided. Accordingly, he recommended, in addition, such was his genius, that an artificial ligamentum should be constructed by using stout, strong, kangaroo tendinous filaments, attaching them to the capsule and then threading them through a hole in the floor of the deepened socket and bringing the tendinous fibres out of the pelvis over the brim of the pelvis; the femoral head covered by capsule was then reduced into the deepened socket and the tendinous kangaroo fibres were then securely sutured to the brim of the pelvis or to Poupart's ligament (Fig. la)-a most ingenious operation, but, alas, nothing more was written in the British surgical literature concerning this procedure! We do not know how often Hey Groves performed this operation, nor do we know what the end results were like.

But in 1932 Professor Paul Colonna described a very similar procedure as the result of his experience in 1929 when dealing with a boy of seven years suffering from bilateral congenital dislocation of the hip at Bellevue Hospital, New York. Open replacement of the right hip into a deepened socket was performed without any preliminary traction (Hey Groves insisted on adequate preliminary traction); the replacement was accomplished according to Colonna's words by 'main strength and awkwardness; the result was a completely stiff hip with X-ray evidence of fragmentation and traumatic osteo-arthritis. Whereupon, in the following year, when tackling the left hip, preliminary traction was used, the femoral head was placed in a deepened socket with the intervention of the capsule in exactly the manner, except for the ligamentum-teres reconstruction, as recommended by Hey Groves. Since then, Paul Colonna made several contributions in American surgical literature on the indication, the procedure and the end results of the operation. In other words, it was a British invention developed in America, hence my reason for naming the operation the Hey Groves-Colonna. Having paid due homage to the originators, I think that it is wiser to refer to it as Capsular Arthroplasty; incidentally, the only arthroplasty of the hip at present performed without the intervention of any foreign material.

Quote p. 250.

When dealing with a subluxation the procedure differs a little. To obtain sufficient capsule to cover the femoral head is a problem, and so the operation proceeds anteriorly and posteriorly as described, but from above it is most important to dissect into the acetabulum between it and the compressed, tough and usually smooth, soft tissue against which the femoral head has been articulating; it is taken along with the capsule which is thereby made adequate.

When the hour-glass is reached it is divided across, the ligamentum teres if present being divided at the sometime. The femurs now free from any acetabular attachments; the capsule is incised for a short distance extending from the hour-glass opening to allow inspection of the femoral head, notice being paid to the state of the articular cartilage, particularly as regards pitting or erosion and attention as to its size, shape and any deformity; and the presence of any adhesions between the capsule and the femoral head most likely to be encountered where previous hip operations have been performed. On occasion the capsule is exceedingly thick on its superior aspect, 1 centimeter or more in thickness, generally due to the response of stresses of weight bearing; it has to be pared down to about 3 millimeters, otherwise it becomes impossible to make a socket large enough to accommodate the femoral head with such a thick capsule. On the other hand the capsule may be scanty, and to cover the articular surface of the femoral head adequately flaps may have to be raised from the thickest part of such a capsule and sutured in rotation fashion. Before closure of the capsule it is possible to estimate within a wide margin the amount of anteversion of the femoral neck. The incision in the capsule is closed by interrupted sutures of chromic catgut, and this closure must be really secure and the femoral articular surface completely covered by capsule, which is lined on its inner surface by synovial membrane.

 


Fig. 1. (a) Diagram of operation proposed by the late Professor Hey Groves. (A) Raw bleeding surface of deepened socket at site of natural acetabulum. (B) Capsule covering femoral head. (C) Synovial membrane. (D) Reconstructed artificial ligamentum teres. (b) Method of applying skeletal traction. Kirschner wires are crossed to eliminate any side-slipping of the wires and stirrup-this method was suggested by Cyril Monty, M.D., F.R.C.S. Side-slipping can also be prevented by encasing the wires and stirrup in plaster of Paris. Note that the opposite hip has been immobilized in a plaster of Paris spica to stabilize the pelvis.


 


Trevor D. The place of the Hey Groves-Colonna operation in the treatment of congenital dislocation of the hip. Annals of The Royal College of Surgeons of England. 1968;43(5)241-58.  pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov


Ernest William Hey Grove first described the operation of reconstruction of the LCF for congenital hip dislocation in 1926 in The Lancet. The following year, the author published a more detailed article in the British Journal of Surgery.

The work is cited in the following publications: 


David Trevor, MSc, FRCS. Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon, Charing Cross Hospital; Consultant Surgeon, Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital.


ligamentum capitis femoris, ligamentum teres, ligament of head of femur, plastic surgery, reconstruction, congenital dislocation, pathology



NB! Fair practice / use: copied for the purposes of criticism, review, comment, research and private study in accordance with Copyright Laws of the US: 17 U.S.C. §107; Copyright Law of the EU: Dir. 2001/29/EC, art.5/3a,d; Copyright Law of the RU: ГК РФ ст.1274/1.1-2,7

                                                                   

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

BLOG CONTENT

  T he ligament of the head of femur or ligamentum capitis femoris (LCF) is the key to a graceful gait and understanding the causes of hip joint diseases. We present promising scientific knowledge necessary for preserving health,  to create new implants and techniques  of treating degenerative  pathology and damage of the hip joint. Project objective : preserving a normal gait and quality of life, helping to study of hip joint biomechanics, developing effective treatments for its diseases and injuries. In translating to English, the author is assisted by ChatGPT (version 3.5)  and the Google Translate service .  We're sorry for any flaws in the syntax. The meaning makes up for the imperfections!     TABLES OF CONTENTS    Acetabular Canal   (Anatomy, topography and significance of the functioning area of ​​the ligamentum capitis femoris) Acetabular Canal.  Part 1.   This article describes the space where the ligam...

1827KühnCG

  Fragment from the book Kühn CG. Clavdii Galeni Opera omnia (1827). Pseudo-Galen notes the connecting function of the ligamentum capitis femoris (LCF) and also specifies the proximal and distal attachment sites. See our commentary at the link: 1827KühnCG [Rus].  Quote [Grc] Εἰσαγωγὴ   ἢ   Ἰτρός . K εφ .  ιβ . [ Περί   όστεολογἰας .] μηρου δέ έν μεν οστούν .  συμβάλλει δε επικεκαμμένη μετρίως τη κεφαλή αυτού εις βαθείαν κοτύλην του ισχίου και νεύρῳ απήρτηται εκφυομένω εκ μέσης της κοτύλης και εμφυομένω εις μέσην την κεφαλήν του μηρού . (original source: 1827KühnCG, pp. 723-724) [Lat Introductio, seu Medicus. Cap. XII.   [De osteologia] Femoris os unum est, cujus caput leniter reflexum in coxae profundum sinum conjicitur. Quam commissuram nervus, qui e medio sinu prodit et in medium femoris caput inseritur, continet. (original source: 1827KühnCG, pp. 723-724) Translation [Eng] Introduction, or the Physician. Chapter 12. [On osteology] The hip has ...

The Solar System

  The Solar System As a result of a mysterious catastrophic event about 13.8 billion years ago, the Universe was formed (2012HawkingS; 2020AghanimN_RoudierG). In it, giant cloud-like accumulations of plasma, molecules and dust became the points of star formation (2011MurrayN). A series of their generations, igniting, functioning and collapsing, led to the appearance of various chemical elements through staged reactions of nuclear fusion (1998IshkhanovBS_TutynIA). The Sun was born for at least ten million years by compressing a concentration of molecular gas and parts of the most ancient stars (2010HanslmeierA). As a result, 4.5682-4.567 billion years ago, the Solar System self-organized, at the dawn of its life consisting of a central luminary and a protoplanetary gas and dust disk (2013HazenRM). At least the oldest meteorite inclusions were fused 4.568-4.565 billion years ago, and at most three million years later, accretion of chondrite globules occurred (1995AllègreCJ_GöpelC). T...

2003IvanovYV

  Ivanov YV, panel, wood carving – Jacob Wrestling with the Angel (2003). Variant of depicting the  circumstances and mechanism of the ligamentum capitis femoris (LCF) injury based on the description in the Book of Genesis:  25 And Ja cob 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 ).     Ivanov Yuri Vitalievich – Jacob Wrestling with the Angel (2003);  im...

1614PlatterF

Fragment from the book Platter F. Observationum (1614). The author notes the role of the ligamentum capitis femoris (LCF) in fixing the femur in the acetabulum and the possibility of its lengthening  (synovitis) . Quote pp. 141-142 [Lat] Cruris dextri astrictio & contractio, post coxendicum dolorem. Cùm enim ligamentum illud articulum circumd ás, omnium totius corporis ligamentorum, quae articulos ambiunt, sit amplissimum; fieri potest, ut adeò cedat, ut (sicuti saepe sit) femoris caput, è suo sinu devoluatur, & in membranae illius (quae cùm erassissima sit, prae omnibus totius corporis ligamentis, nunquam vi qualicunque disrumpi potest) amplitudine seu capacitate subsistat, elongato simul & vehementer attracto, tereti illo & crasso, quod caput aliàs in suo sinu retinere solet, ligamento. Quod & ob tensionem illam nimiam, astrictum & induratum, chordae alicuius crasssissimae & firmisimae instar, quae nunquam disrumpi, nunquam ab acetabulo, cuius cartilag...

Online Journal «ABOUT ROUND LIGAMENT OF FEMUR», July 2025

  The journal is dedicated to the ligamentum capitis femoris (LCF) and related topics   About the Journal   »»»                                                                                . The online journal  « About Round Ligament of  Femur »   was created based on the scientific blog of the same name. The resource is the English-language part of the project:  ONLINE JOURNAL:  Ligamentum capitis femoris .   Updates:  As new materials are prepared. Mission :   Popularization and preservation of knowledge about LCF, as well as promoting its practical application. Main goal:  Improvement of diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of injuries and diseases of the hip joint. Publisher:  Arkhipov S.V., independent researc...

1666VeslingJ

  Fragments from the book Vesling J. Syntagma anatomicum (1666). The author describes the attachment, properties and role of the ligamentum capitis femoris (LCF). The text uses several synonyms: ligamentum teres, rotundo, tereti. Quote p. 269 [Lat] Superior appendix cum adjuncto processu, amplum, globosum que femoris caput constituit, valida cervice subnixum, quod intra cavitatem ossis Ischii, Ilium, & Pubis concursu productam, (Acetabulum alias, Pyxidemque nominant) reconditur. Detinetur in hoc sinu robustis LIGAMENTIS: lato uno, & membranoso, quod articulum totum circumdat, tum rotundo altero, & tereti, quod ab ipsa cavitate productum, statim in caput susceptum demittitur. Quote p. 276 [Lat] Fig. VII … b. Ligamentum teres, ex Acetabulo natum. Translation [Eng] Quote p. 269 . The superior appendage, together with the accessory process, forms the large, spherical head of the femur, supported by a strong neck, which is placed in a cavity formed by the ischium, ilium, and...

344-411Rufinus Aquileiensis

  A fragment of the manuscript of the translation of Josephus Flavius' Antiquities of the Jews ( Ἰουδαϊκὴ ἀρχαιολογία / De antiquitate iudaica) into Latin by Rufinus Aquileiensis. The translator worked approximately between 344 and 411 in the Roman Empire. His work was rewritten between 1150 and 1199 in Northern France. In Josephus's translation of Antiquities of the Jews, ligamentum capitis femoris (LCF) is referred to as «neruum». The selected fragment deals with the LCF of an animal and discusses a biblical episode of its damage in a human. See our commentary at the link: 344-411Rufinus Aquileiensis [Rus]. T he original text: 93-94JosephusF . Quote [ Lat] De antiquitate iudaica. Liber primus (original source: 1150JosephusF, p. 22, fragment) Translation [Eng] Antiquities of the Jews. Book 1. 20.2 When Jacob had made these appointments all the day, and night came on, he moved on with his company; and, as they were gone over a certain river called Jabboc, Jacob was left behi...

150-250Targum Jonathan

  Fragments from the Targum Jonathan on Genesis. Tractate was written between about 150 - 250 in lend of Israel. The text is a combination of a translation and commentary on the book of Bereshit. The unknown compiler mentions ligamentum capitis femoris (LCF) in an animal and an episode of its damage in a human. See our commentary at the link: 150-250Targum Jonathan [Rus]. Quote 1. [Heb] Genesis. 32:33 (original source:  sefaria.org ) Quote 2. [Heb] Genesis. 43:16 (original source:  sefaria.org ) Translation Quote 1. [Eng] Genesis. 32:33 Therefore, the sons of Israel eat not the sinew which shrank, which is in the hollow of the thigh of cattle and of wild animals, until this day; because the Angel touched and laid hold of the hollow of the right thigh of Jakob, in the place of the sinew which shrank. (Transl. by J.W. Etheridge (186 2 ) ; original source: targum.info ) Quote 2. [Eng] Genesis. 43:16 And Joseph saw Benjamin with them: and he said to Menasheh whom he had mad...

Online Journal «ABOUT ROUND LIGAMENT OF FEMUR», June 2025

  The journal is dedicated to the ligamentum capitis femoris (LCF) and related topics   About the Journal   »»»                                                                                . The online journal  « About Round Ligament of  Femur »   was created based on the scientific blog of the same name. The resource is the English-language part of the project:  ONLINE JOURNAL:  Ligamentum capitis femoris .   Updates:  As new materials are prepared. Mission :   Popularization and preservation of knowledge about LCF, as well as promoting its practical application. Main goal:  Improvement of diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of injuries and diseases of the hip joint. Publisher:  Arkhipov S.V., independent researc...