PRESENTATION OUTLINE
A hip labral tear involves the ring of cartilage, called the labrum, that follows the outside rim of the socket of your hip joint. The labrum is like the meniscus of the knee, and helps with shock absorption/stability and also helps to deepen the hip socket.
Many hip labral tears cause no signs or symptoms. Occasionally, however, you may experience one or more of the following:
-A locking, clicking or catching sensation in your hip joint
-Pain in your hip or groin
-Stiffness or limited range of motion in your hip joint
Athletes who participate in sports such as ice hockey, soccer, football, golfing and ballet are at higher risk of developing a hip labral tear.
MOI:
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 the sudden twisting or pivoting motions common in golf or softball — can lead to joint wear and tear that ultimately results in a hip labral tear.
Treatments:
Medication-Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin IB, others) and 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 strength and stability. A physical therapist can also analyze the movements you perform that put stress on your hip joint and help you avoid these forces.
Surgical and other procedures:
-If conservative treatments don't relieve your symptoms, your doctor may 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 may cut out and remove the torn piece of labrum or repair the torn tissue by sewing it back together.
-Recovery time if you are going through physical therapy may be a few weeks as long as the patient isn't experiencing any pain while participating in daily activities or their normal sport activities.
-Recovery after surgery needed to address hip labral tears usually takes four to six months. In other words, patients can expect to resume normal activities six months after surgery.
