Hip Labral Tear: Causes, Symptoms, and Treatments

A hip labral tear is a tear in the tissue of the cartilage that surrounds the hip socket. This tissue plays an important role in hip function, so when it tears, it can be extremely painful and lead to complications. This article explains what a hip labral tear is, what causes it, how to treat it, and ways you can help prevent a tear from happening. 

According to the American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (AAPMR), the definition of a hip labral tear is a disruption in the fibrocartilaginous acetabular labrum.

In other words, courtesy of researchers writing for The Bone & Joint Journal, the acetabular labrum is the tissue that lines the rim of the hip joint. It is a very strong and crucial structure that plays a key role in joint lubrication and hip stability. The labrum also helps distribute weight to allow for walking and reduces contact-to-contact stress from the leg bone moving within the hip.

So, having a tear in something this important can cause a lot of pain. Without treating them, injuries to this part of the body can lead to problems in the future. 

The AAPMR notes that hip labral tears are one of the top three causes of hip pain. In fact, around 66% of people who go to a doctor for hip pain have a hip labral tear. 

Writing in The Bone & Joint Journal, researchers explain that hip labral tears can occur as a result of:

• hip deformities
• dysplasia
• injuries
• overuse or repetitive motions
  • For example, hip labral tears are common in ballet dancers.

Symptoms of a hip labral tear include: 

• front hip pain
• groin pain
• pain that gets worse with standing or sitting for long periods of time
• pain that might radiate to the buttocks, thigh, and knee 
• clicking or “catching” in the hip area
• feeling the hip lock up
• feeling unstable on the affected side 
• stiffness in the hip

If you are experiencing symptoms of a hip labral tear, you should visit your doctor, who will take your medical history — be sure to let them know if you do a lot of repetitive motions with your hips or legs — and assess for any signs of an injury. 

The doctor may perform specific tests to diagnose a hip labral tear, including: 

• A posterior impingement test: This will involve checking for pain by extending the hip and rotating it externally.
• A FABER test: This is a flexion/abduction/external rotation test Trusted Source PubMed Central Highly respected database from the National Institutes of Health Go to source . It will involve lying on a table and placing one leg over the other while a doctor applies counterpressure. 
• A FADIR test: This is a flexion/adduction/internal rotation test. It will involve a doctor adducting and internally rotating the hip to check for pain.
• A Thomas test: This test will involve you lying on your back and bringing your hip up toward your chest. According to one 2022 study, the Thomas test can identify labral tears with 92% specificity. 

Depending on what the physical tests reveal, your doctor may also order imaging tests to confirm the tear. 

There are two ways of treating a hip labral tear: with nonsurgical methods or with surgery. 

Nonsurgical methods are the preferred route for treating hip labral tears whenever possible. The main nonsurgical methods for treating a hip labral tear include the following:

• Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs): One example of an NSAID is ibuprofen.
• Hip joint injections: Most often, doctors use corticosteroid injections to help reduce inflammation and pain. The AAPMR notes that this treatment option can effectively delay the need for surgery. 
• Physical therapy: Physical therapy for hip labral tears focuses on strengthening the area, reducing pain, and transitioning back into everyday activities without causing further damage.
• Lifestyle changes to modify activities involving the affected hip: For example, losing weight (if appropriate) can reduce the load on the damaged hip. 

There has also been some research into the use of platelet-rich plasma injections through guided ultrasound for treating hip labral tears. One 2019 study Trusted Source PubMed Central Highly respected database from the National Institutes of Health Go to source found that such injections were very effective in treating hip labral tear pain. However, additional research is needed. 

The surgical procedure for a hip labral tear is called a labral resection, which either rebuilds or reattaches the soft tissue. The success of this surgery depends on how much of the tissue is intact and able to be rebuilt.

The AAPMR explains that a hip labral tear can lead to poor hip function and cause wear and tear that can eventually give rise to hip osteoarthritis.

Osteoarthritis refers to degenerative wear and tear that can occur anywhere in the body’s joints.  

If someone already has hip osteoarthritis and experiences a hip labral tear, the injury can make the osteoarthritis worse. 

A hip labral tear may not be preventable in all cases, such as if it is due to an injury or movements needed in your career. However, there are some steps you can take to help reduce the risk of sustaining one and improve your recovery if you do experience one. 

The AAPMR recommends the following steps for the prevention of a hip labral tear: 

• maintaining a moderate weight
• losing weight, if appropriate
• avoiding repetitive movements and bearing heavy loads on the hips
• following recommended physical therapy techniques and exercises

You should contact a doctor anytime you develop new hip pain or have difficulty walking. There are many different causes of hip pain, so having hip pain does not necessarily mean that you have a hip labral tear.

However, an untreated hip labral tear could cause further complications, so it is important to rule it out or treat it if needed.

A hip labral tear is a tear in the tissue that lines the hip joint. This tissue plays a very important role in hip function and mobility, so injuring it can cause significant pain.

Without treatment, a hip labral tear can also lead to joint degeneration, or osteoarthritis. If someone already has osteoarthritis in the hip, sustaining a hip labral tear can make their condition worse and cause further damage to the joint.

Hip labral tears are most often due to hip deformities or overuse, such as repetitive motions from work or hobbies. 

There are various treatments available for hip labral tears. The primary approach is usually to try to heal the tear without surgery through options such as NSAIDs, hip injections, and physical therapy.

However, if those approaches are unsuccessful, surgery is an option to repair the tear. According to some research Trusted Source PubMed Central Highly respected database from the National Institutes of Health Go to source , the outcome tends to be good for people who have hip labral tear surgeries, especially if they do not have arthritis.