Labral Tears
What is Labral Tears?
The labrum is a ring of fibrocartilage that attaches to the rim of the acetabulum. It deepens the socket, provides stability to the hip joint and helps to seal the joint, maintaining fluid pressure and protecting the articular cartilage.
A labral tear occurs when part of this cartilage rim is damaged. Labral tears rarely occur in isolation and are most often associated with underlying structural abnormalities such as femoroacetabular impingement or hip dysplasia. Less commonly, they occur as a result of a significant traumatic event or repetitive microtrauma in pivoting athletes.
Symptoms of Labral Tears
Typical symptoms of a labral tear include:
Treatment options
Treatment might include nonsurgical treatments, injections and surgery such as:
Non-surgical:
Surgical:
When symptoms persist despite appropriate non-operative treatment, hip arthroscopy is the mainstay of surgical management. The torn labrum is repaired where possible, or selectively debrided. Any underlying bony abnormality (cam or pincer lesion) must be addressed at the same time to prevent re-tearing. In the presence of significant dysplasia, a combined approach with periacetabular osteotomy may be required.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Hip arthritis usually develops over time rather than from a single cause. The most common reason is gradual wear of the joint cartilage with age. However, many people develop it earlier due to subtle issues with the shape of the hip, when the ball and socket don’t fit perfectly, it creates uneven pressure that slowly damages the joint. Previous injuries, such as fractures or dislocations, can also speed up this process. In some cases, genetics, inflammation, or increased load on the joint (including higher body weight or repetitive stress) contribute.
