Labral hip tear

At HCA UK, our specialist consultants offer a range of advanced treatments for hip labral tears. We offer: 

• Appointments with hip specialists confirmed within 24 hours
• Quality care provided by expert orthopaedic consultants
• Labral hip tear treatment at state-of-the-art facilities

What is a labral tear?

The labrum is the rubbery ring of cartilage surrounding joints including the shoulder and hip. In the hip, this cartilage lines the acetabulum, which is the hip socket where the head of the thigh bone (femur) sits. The labrum absorbs friction caused by activity that affects the hip joint and shares the force created equally across the hip. A labral tear in the hip occurs when the labrum is damaged, which usually takes place over an extended period.

What can cause a labral hip tear? 

Some of the most common causes of hip labral tears include: 

• Trauma: Such as a car accident or falling awkwardly
• Sporting activities: Commonly those associated with impact, such as rugby
• Repetition: Where the hip joint is affected by recurring movements caused by activities like golf, running, or rotational movements such as dancing
• Structural deformities: Femoroacetabular impingement (FAI) is a condition where the hip ball (femoral head) does not quite fit the joint socket. Hip dysplasia can also cause damage to the labrum. 

Are there different types of hip labral tears?

There are two types of hip labral tear. The one you have depends on the part of the joint that’s affected and your doctor may refer to either an anterior or posterior tear.

• Anterior: This is the most common type of hip labral tear. It occurs at the front of the hip and is usually caused by repetitive movements, such as twisting or pivoting.   
• Posterior: These tears occur at the back of the hip. They are usually caused by traumatic injuries that affect the rear part of the hip joint.

What are the symptoms of a labral hip tear?

The most common reason people seek an appointment with a hip specialist is to diagnose a pain in the groin. Pain caused by a tear can also be felt in the side of the hip and deep within the buttocks. The pain is the result of the nerve endings contained in the labrum triggering a response from the pain fibres.  

You may also feel like your hip is catching or clicking as you move it, or that it is locking up or giving way. The labrum helps to keep the ball and socket of the hip correctly aligned. Therefore, a tear can alter the way the hip moves and feels.

Symptoms are commonly experienced during periods of activity. Pain can also occur during extended sitting, such as when driving long distances or working at a desk. If symptoms persist, the tear could worsen. This can cause pain and discomfort during sustained activities such as walking, sitting and standing.

What are the potential labral hip tear treatment options?

Recovery from a labral hip tear is possible without surgery. Non-surgical treatments include: 

• Rest: Reducing movements that might aggravate the symptoms is one of the first recommendations made by doctors in the treatment of labral hip tears. If sporting activity caused the tear, you may need to stop for a while to avoid further damage
• Physiotherapy: Our team of experts provide therapeutic techniques designed to rehabilitate the hip joint.
• Anti-inflammatory medicine: Ibuprofen is often recommended as it can help reduce inflammation and manage pain.
• Steroid injections: Steroid (cortisone) injections may be offered to relieve pain and reduce swelling. If you need anaesthetic, your doctor might offer some to numb the area or mix the steroid with the anaesthetic. The steroid is then injected into your hip joint. Your doctor might use ultrasound to guide the needle.   

Your consultant will let you know what would be the most effective treatment option for you.

Hip labral tear surgery

If non-surgical methods don't work and the pain persists, your consultant may suggest surgery. 

Arthroscopic surgery is the most common type of surgery used for a repair of a hip labral tear. During hip arthroscopy, an orthopaedic surgeon makes small incisions to access the hip. They then use a small camera, called an arthroscope, to examine the affected area. Images of the tear appear on a monitor and, if necessary, your surgeon passes surgical tools through the incisions to repair the tear.  

Arthroscopic surgery for a hip labral tear may include: 

• Stitching the tear: If the tear is clear of debris, it may just need to be stitched up using sterile thread. 
• Removing frayed pieces of labrum: This is a type of keyhole surgery known as arthroscopic debridement and is the process of removing debris from a damaged joint. The surgeon will wash out any loose debris from the tear to the cartilage. They will then trim and reattach the torn cartilage when possible.  
• Labral reconstruction: This process uses tissues from other parts of the body - typically the hip - to replace a missing part of the labrum. The surgeon implants small amounts of tissue to the edge of the acetabulum then uses sterile thread to connect the implanted tissue to the existing healthy tissue in the labrum.

Following surgery, you’ll undergo a period of rehabilitation and gradually return to activity once the joint is fully recovered. Athletes should be able to return to their sport after about six months.