Intra-articular lipoma of the hip

• Published in: BMJ case reports Vol. 2017; p. bcr-2017-220349
• Main Authors: Mells, Anthony J, Gosey, G Max, Muldoon, Michael P
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England BMJ Publishing Group LTD 23-06-2017; BMJ Publishing Group
• Series: Case Report
• Subjects: Aged; Arthralgia - diagnosis; Arthralgia - etiology; Arthritis; Arthroscopy; Calcification; Cartilage, Articular - injuries; Case reports; Female; Femoracetabular Impingement - etiology; Habitus; Hip - pathology; Hip joint; Hip Joint - pathology; Histopathology; Humans; Knee; Lipoma - complications; Lipoma - diagnosis; Lipoma - surgery; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Pain; Physical Examination; Range of Motion, Articular; Rupture; Tumors; Unusual Presentation of More Common Disease/Injury; USA/Canada; White; Orthopaedic And Trauma Surgery; Labral Tears; Musculoskeletal And Joint Disorders; Orthopaedics
• ISSN: 1757-790X; 1757-790X
• DOI: 10.1136/bcr-2017-220349

Intra-articular lipoma of the hip is a rare entity, with only two reports published in the English-language literature. We present a case of successful arthroscopic resection of an intra-articular peripheral compartment lipoma in a 69-year-old woman with a coincident labral tear. This woman presented with left hip pain that developed gradually over 2 years and increased over 2 months. MRI showed a fat-intense mass in the anterior aspect of the hip joint, convincing for intra-articular lipoma. Physical examination in the operating room reproduced decreased range of motion and evidence of impingement but with a soft endpoint. Arthroscopy revealed an anterior intrasubstance labral tear, which was debrided. The mass was excised and confirmed as true lipoma on histology. The soft endpoint on examination illustrates that a large lipoma of the hip joint can cause clinical symptoms of impingement in the absence of bony abnormality or trauma.