Definition

A hip labral tear is an injury to the soft elastic tissue around the hip joint called the labrum. The hip joint is made of a ball and socket. The ball is the end of the thigh bone, also called the femur. This ball fits into the bowl-shaped socket in the pelvic bone, also called the acetabulum. Cartilage lines the socket to keep movement smooth and the joint cushioned. The labrum helps to hold the ball of your femur in place. When this tears, it is called a hip labral tear.

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Causes

Hip labral tears can result from wear and tear or from an injury.

Risk Factors

Factors that can increase your chances of getting a hip labral tear include:

• Wear and tear of the hip joint from different activities, such as golf or softball
• Traumatic injury to hip
• Twisting injuries
• Motor vehicle accident
• Degenerative diseases like osteoarthritis
• Femoroacetabular impingement syndrome (FAI)
• Legg-Calve-Perthes disease
• Hip dysplasia
• Osteoarthritis
• Slipped capital epiphysis
• Capsular laxity/hip hypermobility

Symptoms

Symptoms vary and can be mild, including:

• Hip pain: sharp, deep, disabling
• Locking or clicking of hip
• Hip instability
• Limited range of motion
• Tenderness to touch
• Groin, buttock, or thigh pain
• Pain during activity

Diagnosis

You will be asked about your symptoms and medical history. A physical exam will be done. You will likely be referred to a specialist. An orthopedic surgeon focuses on bones and joints.

Images may need to be taken of your hip. This can be done with:

• MRI arthrography
• X-rays

An anesthetic may be injected to help diagnose this condition. If the pain gets better with the injection, the problem is in the joint which could be a labral tear.

Treatment

Talk with your doctor about the best plan for you. Treatment options include the following:

Common medical treatment may include:

• Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)
• Steroid injection to the joint
• Modified activity
• Physical therapy to strengthen muscles

Generally, this treatment is tried for several weeks. If there is no improvement, then surgery is considered.

Arthroscopy uses a thin, lighted tube inserted through a small incision to view the injury and fix it. Small instruments are threaded through this tube. The torn labrum may be removed or sewn together.

Prevention

There are no known guidelines to prevent a hip labral tear.