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The cartilage ring (labrum), which circles the hip joint socket on the outside, is affected by a hip labral tear. In addition to protecting the hip joint, the labrum functions as a gasket or rubber seal to keep the ball at the top of the thighbone firmly inside the hip socket.
Hip labral tears are more common in athletes who play sports such as ice hockey, soccer, football, golf, and ballet. Hip structural issues may result in a hip labral tear.
Indications include hip discomfort or stiffness. Hip labral tears can be treated non-operatively or surgically.
Symptoms
Most people with hip labral tears have no signs or symptoms. However, some persons possess one or more of the following:
- Hip or groin pain that is frequently made worse by prolonged standing, sitting, walking, or sport activity
- A hip-joint catching, locking, or clicking sensation
- Hip joint stiffness or restricted range of motion
- Instability while standing
If symptoms worsen or don’t get better after six weeks, see a doctor.
Causes
A hip labral tear could be brought on by:
- Trauma. A hip labral tear can result from harm to or dislocation of the hip joint, which can happen in auto accidents or while participating in contact sports such as football or hockey.
- Structural problems. Hip problems that some people have from birth can hasten the deterioration of the joint and finally result in a hip labral tear. This can include having a socket that does not completely cover the ball section of the upper thigh bone (dysplasia) or having a shallow socket, which can place extra strain on the labrum.
The labrum can be pinched by extra bone in the hip, a condition known as femoroacetabular impingement (FAI), which over time can cause tears.
- Repetitive motions. Long-distance running, as well as the abrupt twisting or pivoting motions frequent in sports like softball or golf, can cause joint wear and tear that ultimately results in a hip labral tear.
- Degenerative health conditions. Osteoarthritis is a chronic (long-term) degeneration of the joint cartilage. Over time, cartilage gradually deteriorates and becomes more prone to tearing. A person’s chance of having osteoarthritis can rise with advanced age and excessive weight. Osteoarthritis patients frequently experience pain and stiffness in many joints (the hip and knee, for example).
Diagnosis
Your doctor will record a history of your symptoms. Moving your leg, and particularly your hip joint, into different positions during the physical examination is necessary to check for pain and gauge your hip’s range of motion. The doctor may possibly need to observe your gait.
Imaging scans
A hip labral tear is seldom an isolated injury. Most frequently, damage to other hip-joint structures are present as well. When it comes to visualizing bone, X-rays are great. They can look for structural and arthritic conditions.
Detailed pictures of the soft tissues in your hip can be obtained using a Magnetic Resonance Arthrography (MRA). To make a labral tear easier to observe, MRA combines Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) technology with a contrast agent injected into the hip joint area.
Anesthesia injection
Hip pain may result from issues inside or outside the joint. Your doctor may advise administering an anesthetic by injection into the joint space. If doing this lessens your pain, the source of your pain is probably inside your hip joint.
Treatment
Your symptoms’ severity will determine the course of treatment. Conservative treatments like rest and limited activity can help some people recover in a few weeks, but for others, an arthroscopic procedure is required to repair the torn labrum.
Medications
Ibuprofen and naproxen sodium are examples of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications that help reduce inflammation and relieve pain. An injection of corticosteroids into the joint can also momentarily reduce pain.
Physical therapy
You can learn exercises from a physical therapist to expand the range of motion in your hip and develop hip and core strength and stability. You can learn from therapists how to prevent actions that strain your hip joint.
Surgery
Your doctor may advise arthroscopic surgery, in which a fiber-optic camera and surgical instruments are placed through small incisions in your skin, if conservative therapy fail to relieve your symptoms.
The surgeon may choose to remove the torn labrum or suture the torn tissue back together, depending on the reason and severity of the tear.
Surgery can include side effects such as infection, bleeding, nerve damage, and reoccurring problems if the repair doesn’t heal correctly. It often takes 3 to 6 months to resume sports.
