Hip Labral Tear
HIP LABRAL TEAR
A hip labral tear involves the ring of cartilage (labrum) that follows the outside rim of your hip joint socket. Besides cushioning the hip joint, the labrum acts like a rubber seal or gasket to help hold the ball at the top of your thighbone securely within your hip socket.
Athletes who participate in sports such as ice hockey, soccer, football, golf and ballet are at higher risk of developing hip labral tears. Structural abnormalities of the hip also can lead to a hip labral tear.
HIP (BALL & SOCKET) ANATOMY
DISEASE EXPLAINED
SYMPTOMS
Many hip labral tears cause no signs or symptoms. Some people, however, have one or more of the following:
Pain in your hip or groin, often made worse by long periods of standing, sitting or walking
A locking, clicking or catching sensation in your hip joint
Stiffness or limited range of motion in your hip joint
CAUSES
TRAUMA.
Injury to or dislocation of the hip joint — which can occur during car accidents or from playing contact sports such as football or hockey — can cause a hip labral tear.
STRUCTURAL ABNORMALITIES.
Some people are born with hip problems that can accelerate wear and tear of the joint and eventually cause a hip labral tear.
REPETITIVE MOTIONS.
Sports-related and other physical activities — including long-distance running and the sudden twisting or pivoting motions common in golf or softball — can lead to joint wear and tear that ultimately result in a hip labral tear.
TREATMENT
TREATMENT OPTIONS
Treatment depends on how severe your symptoms are. Some people recover with conservative treatments in a few weeks; others need arthroscopic surgery to repair or remove the torn portion of the labrum.
MEDICATIONS
Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, such as ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin IB, others) and naproxen sodium (Aleve), can relieve pain and reduce inflammation. Pain can also be controlled temporarily with an injection of corticosteroids into the joint.
THERAPY
A physical therapist can teach you exercises to maximize hip range of motion and hip and core strength and stability. Therapists can also teach you to avoid movements that put stress on your hip joint.
SURGICAL OPTIONS
If conservative treatments don’t relieve your symptoms, your doctor might recommend arthroscopic surgery — in which a fiber-optic camera and surgical tools are inserted via small incisions in your skin.
Depending on the cause and extent of the tear, the surgeon might remove the torn piece of labrum or repair the torn tissue by sewing it back together.
Complications of surgery can include infection, bleeding, nerve injury and recurrent symptoms if the repair doesn’t heal properly. A return to sports can take weeks to months.
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