Hip Labral Tear

The labrum inside your hip joint can tear under enough strain, causing long-term joint pain. Austin Sports Medicine serves the community in and around Central and South Austin, as well as Bee Cave, Cedar Park, and Pflugerville, Texas. The team’s comprehensive, personalized programs offer treatments that include physical therapy, platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections, and joint surgery. Contact your nearest Austin Sports Medicine office today by phone or online to request a hip labral tear assessment.

What are labral tears of the hip?

A labral tear happens when the labrum — the ring of cartilage that lines the rim of your hip socket — experiences damage.

The labrum helps cushion the joint and keeps the femoral head (top of the thigh bone) securely in place. When it tears, it can cause pain, stiffness, and a feeling like your hip is catching or locking during movement.

What causes a hip labral tear?

Labral tears can be due to injury or repetitive motion. Athletes who do a lot of twisting, pivoting, or squatting, such as dancers, hockey players, or soccer players, are especially at risk.

Structural problems like CAM impingement or femoroacetabular impingement (FAI), where the bones in the hip joint don’t fit together properly, can also cause labral tears of the hip.

What symptoms do labral tears of the hip cause?

Symptoms of hip labral tears include:

• Sharp or aching pain in the front or side of the hip
• Clicking, locking, or catching sensations during movement
• Stiffness or reduced range of motion
• Pain that worsens with activity or long periods of sitting

The Austin Sports Medicine team uses onsite open MRI and digital X-ray to pinpoint your hip pain’s cause and design a personalized treatment plan.

What treatments are available for labral tears of the hip?

The Austin Sports Medicine team starts with nonsurgical treatments when possible. Physical therapy is vital for all patients because it strengthens the hip muscles, improves flexibility, and relieves pressure on the joint.

Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections may promote healing in the labrum, and image-guided steroid injections deliver potent anti-inflammatories directly into the tissues.

Would labral tears of the hip require surgery?

If your pain doesn’t improve with conservative care, you might need to consider minimally invasive hip arthroscopy surgery. 

During this procedure, your surgeon trims or repairs the torn labrum, smooths any rough areas of cartilage, and addresses any underlying issues, like bone impingement.

After surgery, you commence a physical therapy program to restore strength and mobility. Full recovery can take 3-6 months, depending on your labral tear’s severity, with most people returning to sports, work, and daily activities without pain.

Early diagnosis and care are key to avoiding long-term damage following labral tears of the hip. Call your nearest Austin Sports Medicine office today to request an evaluation, or use the online booking feature to schedule a consultation.