Anatomy of the iliocapsularis muscle. Relevance to surgery of the hip.

Gross anatomic dissections of 20 fresh adult human anatomic hip specimens were performed to characterize the anatomy of the iliocapsularis muscle, a little known but constant muscle overlying the anteromedial hip capsule. This muscle originates in part from the inferior border of the anterior-inferior iliac spine, but the main origin arises from an elongated attachment to the anteromedial hip capsule and inserts just distal to the lesser trochanter. This muscle is an important landmark for exposure of the anteromedial hip capsule and psoas tendon interval during performance of the Bernese pericapsular osteotomy. It is postulated that contraction of this muscle theoretically can tighten the anterior hip capsule, thus helping to stabilize the femoral head within a dysplastic acetabulum.