Hip Labral Tear: Causes, Symptoms, Risk Factors, Diagnosis, Treatment and Complications

A hip labral tear affects the ring of cartilage (labrum) that surrounds the outside border of the hip joint socket. The labrum acts as a gasket or rubber seal to securely retain the ball at the top of the thighbone in the hip socket and cushion the hip joint.

Sports players who participate in ice hockey, soccer, football, golf and ballet are likelier to get hip labral tears. Hip structural problems can potentially lead to hip labral tears.

Causes Of Hip Labral Tear

A hip labral tear may be brought on by:

• Injury: Hip labral tears are brought on by damage to or dislocation of the hip joint, which can happen in auto accidents or while participating in contact sports like hockey or football.
• Structural problems: Hip problems that might accelerate joint deterioration and finally result in a hip labral tear are present in some persons from birth. A shallow socket, which may place additional strain on the labrum, or dysplasia, which results in a socket that does not completely cover the ball section of the upper thigh bone, are examples of this.
• Fracture of the labrum can also result from squeezing it due to femoroacetabular impingement (FAI), an extra bone in the hip.
• Repeated movements: Sports-unrelated exercises like long-distance running and the sudden twisting or pivoting required in golf or softball can wear out joints and eventually result in a hip labral rupture.

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Symptoms Of Hip Labral Tear

Many hip labral rips have no symptoms at all. Some people, however, suffer from one or more of the following ailments:

• Hip or groyne pain that is often made worse by physical activity, extended standing, sitting, or walking, 
• Locking, snapping, or catching sensation in the hip joint
• Stiffness, or limited range of motion

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Risk Factors Of Hip Labral Tear

While hip labral tears are a common occurrence, some specific circumstances and behaviours increase the risk.

People who have hip structural problems, such as impingement, dysplasia, or loose ligaments over time, are more likely to experience hip labral tears. Doing certain exercises that involve bending over time or repetitive actions increases the risk of hip labral tears. Among them are sports like golf, ballet, and swimming. 

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Diagnosis Of Hip Labral Tear

Your doctor will inquire about any previous pain you may have experienced. Your leg, and especially your hip joint, will likely be moved into various positions during the physical examination to measure your hip range of motion and check for any pain. They might watch you stroll, for all you know.

Imaging examinations

A hip labral tear rarely occurs by itself. Most of the time, additional hip joint structures are also damaged. On an X-ray, the bone is visible. They can examine for arthritis and structural problems.

A magnetic resonance arthrography (MRI) can provide you with detailed images of the soft tissues of your hip (MRA). Magnetic resonance angiography (MRA), which combines MRI technology, makes a labral tear easier to visualise with an injection of contrast material into the hip joint area.

Anaesthetic injection

Hip pain can be caused by joint problems, both internal and outside. Your doctor might suggest giving the joint area an injection of an anaesthetic. If you can relieve your discomfort by doing this, your hip joint is most likely the problem.

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Treatment Of Hip Labral Tear

The degree of your symptoms will dictate the course of your treatment. Some people heal in a few weeks with conservative methods like rest and reduced activity; others need arthroscopic surgery to repair the torn labrum.

Medications

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs like ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin IB, and other brands) and naproxen sodium (Aleve) can lessen and alleviate pain and inflammation. Another option for momentarily relieving pain in the joint is to inject corticosteroids.

Therapy

A physical therapist can teach you exercises to increase your hip strength, hip range of motion, and core stability. Therapists can also instruct you on how to stay away from activities that put stress on your hip joint.

Surgery

Should non-invasive methods of symptom relief prove ineffective, your physician can recommend arthroscopic surgery. Small skin incisions must be made for the insertion of surgical equipment and a fibre-optic camera during this surgery.

Depending on the cause and extent of the tear, the surgeon may elect to remove the torn labrum or sew the injured tissue back together.

Surgical dangers include infection, bleeding, nerve injury, and recurrent symptoms in the case that the surgery does not heal sufficiently. Resuming athletics often takes three to six months.

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Complications Of Hip Labral Tear

You may be more susceptible to hip labral tears if you have osteoarthritis in that joint.

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