A hip labral tear occurs when the labrum – a strong and flexible cartilage that lines the rim of the hip socket becomes frayed, torn, or detached.
The labrum serves many functions.
- It deepens the hip socket and holds the ball and socket parts of the hip joint together.
- It acts like a rubber gasket and seals the joint fluid inside the hip socket.
- It allows free movement between the hip socket and the thigh bone and limits extreme range of motion in the hip joint.
A labral tear can occur in the front of the labrum, called anterior labral tear, Or at the back, called posterior labral tear.
It is also possible for combined tears where both the front and back regions of the labrum are injured.
The most common cause for a hip labral tear is hip impingement – a condition where abnormal bone grows near the hip joint, causing friction and damage to the labrum during hip movements.
Other causes of hip labral tears include:
- Hip dysplasia, a condition where the hip socket is shallow and doesn’t fully hold the ball portion of the hip joint.
- Repetitive micro-trauma from activities such as running or twisting.
- Sudden trauma from falling or contact sports, where the ball and socket portions of the hip dislodge, detaching the labrum.
A torn hip labrum causes a variety of symptoms and signs around the hip joint.
- Most individuals feel a persistent dull ache in the front of the hip or inner thigh, also called the groin.
- A dull ache or sharp stabbing pain may also be felt along the outer side of the hip and the buttocks.
- For some people, the pain may travel down the thigh and into the knees.
- During the later stages, a grinding or coarse sensation is felt inside the joint during hip movement and the joint’s range of motion is reduced.
Hip labral tears can be treated with or without surgery. Non-surgical treatments are recommended for mildly inflamed or frayed labrums with the potential to heal.
Common non-surgical treatments include:
- A short course of medication to reduce labral pain and inflammation,
- Cold therapy to reduce inflammation and manage pain from a flare-up,
- Heat therapy to decrease muscle spasm and promote healing to the injured labrum.
- Physical therapy to strengthen the hip muscles, such as the hip flexors, and
- Hip injections to reduce inflammation and pain, and promote healing.
Surgery is recommended for certain types of moderate to severe tears and include:
- Hip labral repair,
Hip labral debridement, and
Hip labral replacement.
Hip labral tears tend to heal well with medical treatment. If left untreated, the tear continues to worsen and weakens the hip joint, increasing the risk of hip osteoarthritis.
