CaRi-heart technology
Revolutionary new technology to assess the risk of a serious heart condition or heart attack – many years before anything happens.
A labral tear in the hip is an injury that affects the tissue that holds the ball and socket parts of the hip joint together.
At HCA UK, our specialist consultants offer a range of advanced treatments for hip labral tears. We offer:
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.
Some of the most common causes of hip labral tears include:
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.
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.
To make a labral hip tear diagnosis, your consultant will discuss your symptoms with you. They’ll ask about the injury and any repetitive movements you regularly make that may have strained the hip.
If your consultant thinks you may have a labral hip tear, they will refer you for some imaging. An MRI scan is the most effective way to diagnose a labral hip tear because the resulting image shows the soft tissue around the hip joint.
People occasionally have a diagnostic injection when undergoing tests for a suspected hip labral tear.
Another way of identifying a hip labral tear is with an X-ray. This may also help rule out hip dysplasia and FAI.
Recovery from a labral hip tear is possible without surgery. Non-surgical treatments include:
Your consultant will let you know what would be the most effective treatment option for you.
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:
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.
We have many orthopaedic consultants who specialise in hip and knee conditions. For a full recovery from your labral hip tear, treatment is likely to also be provided by specialist physiotherapists and, in certain cases, sports medicine physicians.
We’ll aim to take you through the hip labral tear recovery process without surgery if it will be effective for you. But if you do require an operation, we make it easy to find the best hip labral tear surgeon near you.
In many cases, people with a labral hip tear do not experience any pain. However, the pain can be mild to severe for some. It depends on the type of tear you have, how long you have had it, and how other factors aggravate it, such as the type of pressure you put on the hips during exercise.
Those affected by a hip labral tear describe anything from a dull ache to a sharp pain when moving the hip in a certain way or during activities that rotate the joint. Pain can also be felt deeper inside the body, rather than as a cramp or muscle pain. Some people with a hip labral tear experience a radiating pain that spreads out from the hip to other areas, including the groin and lower back.
In order to avoid feeling the pain, it’s common for those affected to modify how they walk and move. This, in turn, can then impact their posture and put pressure on other muscles around the hip and lower back, creating other issues, such as back pain.
Anyone can damage or injure their hip in a way that leads to a labral tear. However, there are certain risk factors that make it more common for some people:
Athletes: If you play sports or have a career that requires you to put a lot of pressure on the hips, you’re more likely to experience tears in the labrum. High-impact sports where there’s a lot of tackling and falling, such as football and rugby, increase the risk of a tear forming. Sports that involve a repeated twisting motion of the hips, such as dance and golf, also increase the likelihood of sustaining this type of injury.
It can take around three to six months to fully recover after hip labrum surgery. You should be able to return to low-impact work after a couple of weeks and sport after three months, although you’ll need to follow the guidance of your doctor before you do.
You’ll usually be invited to a post-surgery appointment around six to eight weeks after your procedure. Your doctor will examine the hip and ask you questions about your recovery. You’ll also be able to ask any questions you have and any decisions about follow-up treatment will be made.
We offer quick, effective orthopaedic treatment and support for thousands of people every year.
Our expert team of hip specialists provide comprehensive, quality care from our network of treatment centres. Book an appointment with one of our hip consultants today.
Cardiology
Urology
Urology
Cardiology
This content is intended for general information only and does not replace the need for personal advice from a qualified health professional.