Hip Labral Tears
The hip is a ball and socket joint and the largest weight-bearing joint in the body. The upper end of the thigh bone (the femur) is the ball that fits into the pelvis’s socket (the acetabulum). The socket is lined with articular cartilage that reduces friction and provides smooth movement. However, the socket is shallow, so we have a strong ring of cartilage lining around the socket, called the labrum, to help contain the ball within the socket via a strong suction seal. The labrum holds the leg bone in place and seals the hip joint to increase joint stability.
A labral tear destabilizes the hip joint, adds to joint impairment, restricts motion, creates weakness and instability, and can lead to hip dislocation. To alleviate the pain, the patient often changes their gait to take the load off the damaged labrum and reduce pain. This changes the center of gravity, which leads to muscle dysfunction. Over time, the hip joint can deteriorate and become permanently damaged. Labral tears can be associated with other hip conditions, such as hip dysplasia or femoroacetabular impingement.
- Degenerative tears: Repetitive use or overuse can wear down the labrum and cause a degenerative tear. Nonathletes performing activities of daily living and athletes who play ice hockey, soccer, football, golf, and ballet are at increased risk of a degenerative tear. Almost three-quarters of labrum tears are the result of gradual wear and tear.
- Traumatic tears: Traumatic tears are caused by trauma from an auto accident, a sports injury, or even a slip and fall from a standing height, causing a hip dislocation or partial dislocation (subluxation).
- Structural tears: Hip dysplasia or femoroacetabular impingement (FAI) causes abnormal hip movements, predisposing patients to labral tears. Hip dysplasia is an excessively shallow, malformed socket that can lead to significant edge-loading and tearing of the labrum along the hip joint. Hip dysplasia often leads to hip dislocation or subluxation. Hip impingement is when the hip bones are abnormally shaped and impinge on or pinch the labrum during the range of motion, causing tears. This condition is called femoroacetabular impingement (FAI).
The most common symptoms of a hip labral tear are:
- Pain with prolonged sitting/driving
- Sharp hip or groin pain, especially when walking or running.
- Pain at night
- Sexual groin pain
- Joint stiffness when attempting to stand.
- Reduced range of motion
- A clicking or locking sensation with movement.
Hip surgeon, Dr. Daniel Kaplan, will review your medical history, ask questions about hip injuries and symptoms, and conduct a thorough orthopedic examination with specific tests to help identify the source of your hip pain. He will order imaging studies, including X-rays to check for bony causes of hip pain and possibly an MRI to evaluate the soft tissues. He may also provide a intra-articular hip injection for both treatment and diagnostic purposes.
Schedule an orthopedics consultation today.
If you suffer from hip impingement, schedule an orthopedic consultation today with Brooklyn’s leading hip surgeon, Dr. Daniel Kaplan. Dr. Kaplan is an Assistant Professor of Orthopedic Surgery at NYU Langone Medical Center in Manhattan and Brooklyn. He is also the chief of sports medicine at Bellevue Hospital and the chief of sports medicine at the VA hospital in Manhattan. He is a Sports Medicine and fellowship-trained orthopedic surgeon specializing in diagnosing and treating hip conditions. You’re in expert hands.
At a Glance
Dr. Daniel Kaplan
- Fellowship-trained Sports Medicine and Shoulder Surgeon
- Expertise in Complex Shoulder Hip and Knee minimally-invasive reconstruction procedures
- Assistant Professor of Orthopedic Surgery at NYU
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