No matter your age, we know that a hip injury can cause disruption and impact your daily life. When it comes to hip labral tears, this can be a painful condition. Orthopedic hip experts at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center in Columbus, Ohio, see and treat hip labral tears in many people. With expert care, you can get back to your normal activities and feel better soon.
What is a hip labral tear?
Your hip joint is a “ball-and-socket” joint. The hip joint is where the thighbone meets the pelvis. It has a cup-shaped socket called the acetabulum in the hip bone and a ball at the top of the thighbone called the femoral head. Within the hip socket, there’s a ring of cartilage that lines the socket and this is called the hip labrum.
The hip labrum creates a suction seal between the hip’s ball and socket, like a washer or gasket. A tear in the hip labrum occurs when the labrum pulls away from the bone attachment and interferes with the connection where the joint meets cartilage. This is also sometimes called an acetabular labrum tear.
Hip labral tears can be complete detachments, or tears of the fibers within the labrum. Tears in the hip labrum are very common and are a frequently encountered source of pain in the hip joint. They can occur at almost any age but tend to happen in teens through adults.
What causes hip labral tears?
Tears in the hip labrum can occur for many reasons. There are some risk factors associated with the condition. A risk factor is anything that may increase the chance you could develop a labral tear in the hip. It’s important to note that just because you may have a risk factor doesn’t mean you’ll have a labral tear.
Some of the more common causes and risk factors for labral tears include:
- Issues with the hip structure
- Hip dysplasia: This condition happens when the hip joint does not fit together properly because of shallowness of the socket, which can lead to pain and problems with movement.
- Hip impingement (FAI): This occurs when the bones of the hip joint don’t fit together perfectly due to an irregular shape. Over time, this can cause damage to the joint, including tearing of the labrum.
- Hip instability: Hip instability happens when the hip joint doesn’t have the necessary support and stability, leading to excessive movement and potential pain or injury.
- Degeneration of the hip, including osteoarthritis: Over time, the bones in the hip joint may rub against each other when protective cartilage wears down in the hip. Labral tears are more likely to happen when a person has osteoarthritis.
- Traumatic events or injuries, including unexpected impact to the joint
- Repetitive motions or overuse of the hip joint from certain activities or occupations
- Previous hip injury
Therefore, it's important to pay attention to any hip pain you may have and talk to a doctor if you have any concerns.
Hip labral tear symptoms
When it comes to hip labral tears, people may experience different symptoms.
The symptoms of a hip labral tear may include:
- Deep pain in the front part of the hip and down into the groin area
- Pain that radiates toward the deep buttock area
- Stiffness in the hip joint or difficulty using it
- Catching, grinding and other mechanical-type pain with certain movements
- Pain that worsens or intensifies with certain activities, such as walking, twisting and getting in and out of a car
If you have any of these symptoms or notice any unusual symptoms, you should talk to your doctor right away.
How are hip labral tears diagnosed?
Properly diagnosing hip labral tears first begins with Ohio State Sports Medicine experts gathering a detailed medical history and physically examining your hip. We’ll see what types of activities and motions seem to provoke more pain.
Diagnostic imaging may be ordered and can include:
- X-rays
- Ultrasound-guided injections
- Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans
- Computed tomography (CT) scans
Your doctor will evaluate the results of the physical examination, and any imaging tests ordered to form a diagnosis, and will determine if your hip labrum is torn.
Hip labral tear treatment
When it comes to treating hip labral tears, there are different treatment options your doctors will consider. The right treatment often depends on the severity of the tear and related factors. This can help you make informed decisions alongside your providers to ensure the best outcomes. Your doctor may recommend one or more treatment options; there are both nonsurgical and surgical options.
Nonsurgical treatment options
Some of the nonsurgical treatment options may include:
- Rest and modification to one’s activities
- Physical therapy
- Medications, including anti-inflammatory medications
- Cortisone (steroidal) injections
- Sports orthobiologics, such as platelet-rich plasma injections
Surgical treatment options
- Hip arthroscopy: This is a minimally invasive surgical procedure often performed on an outpatient basis. You can usually have the surgery and go home the same day. During the procedure, small incisions are made in your thigh to insert a camera and surgical instruments into the hip. This allows the surgeon to view and make necessary repairs. The surgery can involve debridement, which is the removal of frayed or damaged tissue, as well as repairing the labral tear to restore normal function and help reduce pain. We can also reshape the bone to remove any impingement.
Hip labral tears do not typically heal on their own but can be managed with the options listed above.
Recovery from hip labrum repair surgery
You can usually go home the same day after surgery. You will use crutches for four to six weeks following surgery; you won’t be able to put full weight on the affected hip until your doctor says it’s safe to do so. A full recovery can take from three to six months, or even longer depending on how bad the tear was and how much repair was needed. You’ll receive various types of pain management after surgery, and you’ll need physical therapy to help with recovery. Your care team will monitor your progress and will let you know when you can resume certain activities.
Why choose Ohio State for hip labral tear treatment?
The Ohio State Wexner Medical Center specializes in the most advanced treatment options for hip labral tears. Our team of experts is made up of many specialists, including dual-fellowship-trained surgeons, sports medicine physicians, physical therapists, clinic staff, administrative staff and a research team that specializes in diagnosing and treating labral hip tears.
Our state-of-the-art facility at the Jameson Crane Sports Medicine Institute offers many services, from specialized physical therapy to outpatient surgical options, to help you successfully manage your hip injuries.