Labral Tears Of The Hip (Acetabular Labrum Tears)
OVERVIEW
A labral tear of the hip is an injury to the labrum, the soft tissue that covers the socket (acetabulum) of the hip. Labral tears of the hip are caused by a wide variety of factors such as injury, structural problems, or degenerative issues. Symptoms can vary greatly for a labral hip tear, but they typically include pain and stiffness. Labral hip tears are treated non-surgically, or with surgery in severe cases.
ANATOMY
The hip is a ball and socket joint. The socket is inside the large pelvis bone (acetabulum) and the ball is the upper end of the thighbone (femoral head). A slippery tissue known as the articular cartilage covers the surface of the joint, creating a smooth surface that allows for the bones to glide easily across each other.
The labrum is a band of tough cartilage and connective tissue that lines the rim of the hip socket (acetabulum). It works to cushion the hip bone, which prevents the bones from directly rubbing against each other. The labrum also increases the stability of the joint by helping keep the leg bone in place.

DESCRIPTION
An acetabular labrum tear, also known as the labral tear of the hip, is when the cartilage and tissue in the hip socket are damaged. There are many different reasons your acetabular labrum can tear. For example, some people may tear their labrum from an accident such as a fall or a car crash. Additionally, sports that involve the entire rotation of the hip, like golf, ballet, hockey, and soccer, can overwork the labrum, increasing the risk of tearing it.
While these types of activities and injuries can cause the labrum to tear, nearly 75% of torn acetabular labrum cases have no direct cause; they gradually happen over time. Labral tears of the hip are more common in women. They also occur more often in people who have abnormalities of the hip structure, like hip dysplasia and other conditions.
SYMPTOMS
Labral tears of the hip can cause many different symptoms. While some people may not experience any discomfort, others have sharp pain around the groin, which can extend into the upper leg or buttocks. Pain can either come on suddenly or develop gradually over time. Rotating your leg may also be particularly painful.
Labral tears of the hip often cause a feeling of the leg clicking or catching in the hip socket whenever you move it. It may also feel as though the leg is locking up.

Diagnosis
Your Florida Orthopaedic Institute physician will take a look at your symptoms, overall medical health, and medical history, followed by a medical examination. During the exam, your physician will have you flex and rotate your leg. They may decide you need an MRI or a different imaging test to confirm that you have a labral tear of the hip. But even after all these tests and examination, diagnosis is often difficult.
Another way of diagnosing a labral tear of the hip is an arthroscopy, which uses small incisions that allow for a tiny camera to be slipped into the hip to look at the labrum. This procedure is sometimes part of surgery to repair the damage.
Treatment (Overview)
There are both surgical and nonsurgical treatments available for labral tears of the hip. Nonsurgical treatments are typically the most common treatment option, as it is the least invasive and easiest option. If the damage is severe, or if nonsurgical treatments offer no relief, surgical options may be recommended. Your Florida Orthopaedic Institute physician will walk you through your options and determine which treatment plan is best for you.
NON-SURGICAL TREATMENTS
Nonsurgical treatments are usually the first steps to treating a labral tear of the hip. Your physician may begin by recommending using pain relieving medicines and resting the hip to help manage the pain. These steps may not be effective for healing the tear because the majority of the labrum gets little to no blood flow, which is crucial for natural healing.
Physical therapy may also be recommended to help heal a torn acetabular labrum, which helps build muscle strength to support the joint.
SURGICAL TREATMENTS
If nonsurgical treatments are ineffective, your Florida Orthopaedic Institute physician may recommend arthroscopic surgery. During the procedure, several small incisions are made to allow for several small tools, including a camera, to be inserted into the body. These tools are then used to either remove the torn tissue or repair it, depending on the severity of the injury. The camera is used to help see everything that is going on during the procedure.
Surgery usually provides short-term improvement. But experts are not sure how long the effects last. Surgery is less likely to be successful in people who already have other problems in the hip, such as arthritis or hip dysplasia. Following surgery, you will need physical therapy to rebuild strength and flexibility.
NEXT STEPS
Contact your Florida Orthopaedic Institute physician to learn more about a labral tear of the hip.
Areas of Focus
- Hip & Thigh
- Avascular Necrosis (Osteonecrosis)
- Hip Arthroscopy
- Hip Dislocation
- Hip Flexor Strains
- Hip Fractures
- Hip Hemiarthroplasty
- Hip Muscle Strains
- Labral Tears Of The Hip (Acetabular Labrum Tears)
- MAKO Total Hip Replacement
- Osteoarthritis of the Hip
- Osteoporosis
- Pelvic Ring Fractures
- Senior Strong
- Sports Hernias (Athletic Pubalgia)
- Thigh Fractures
- Thigh Muscle Strains
- Total Hip Arthroplasty
- Total Hip Replacement - Anterior Approach
The following Florida Orthopaedic Institute physicians specialize in LABRAL TEARS OF THE HIP (ACETABULAR LABRUM TEARS):
Specialties
- Achilles Tendinitis - Achilles Insertional Calcific Tendinopathy (ACIT)
- Achilles Tendon Rupture
- Achilles Tendonitis
- ACL Injuries
- ALIF: Anterior Lumbar Interbody Fusion Surgery
- Ankle Fracture Surgery
- Ankle Fractures (Broken Ankle)
- Ankle Fusion
- Arthritis & Adult Reconstruction Surgery
- Arthroscopic Chondroplasty
- Arthroscopic Debridement of the Elbow
- Arthroscopic Rotator Cuff Repair
- Artificial Disc Replacement (ADR)
- Aspiration of the Olecranon Bursa
- Avascular Necrosis (Osteonecrosis)
- Back Surgery Types
- Bankart Repair
- Basal Joint Surgery
- Bicep Tendon Tear
- Bicep Tenodesis
- Bioinductive Implant
- Broken Collarbone
- Bunions
- Bursitis of the Shoulder (Subacromial Bursitis)
- Calcific Tendinitis of the Shoulder
- Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
- CARTIVA® Implant For Big Toe Joint Arthritis
- Charcot Joint
- Chiropractic
- Colles’ Fractures (Broken Wrist)
- Community Outreach
- ConforMIS Knee Replacement
- Cubital Tunnel Syndrome
- De Quervain's Tenosynovitis
- Degenerative Disc Disease
- Diffuse Idiopathic Skeletal Hyperostosis (DISH)
- Discitis
- Dislocated Shoulder
- Dupuytren’s Disease
- Elbow
- Elbow Bursitis
- Elbow Injuries in Throwing Athletes
- Epidural Injections for Spinal Pain
- Finger Dislocation
- Flexor Tendonitis
- Foot, Ankle & Lower Leg
- Fractures Of The Shoulder Blade (Scapula)
- Fractures Of The Tibial Spine
- Functional Nerve Transfers of The Hand
- Ganglion Cysts
- General Orthopedics
- Glenoid Labrum Tear
- Golfer's Elbow
- Growth Plate Injuries Of The Elbow
- Hallux Rigidus - Cheilectomy
- Hand & Finger Replantation
- Hand & Upper Extremity
- Hand & Wrist
- Hand Nerve Decompression
- Hand Skin Grafts
- Hip & Thigh
- Hip Arthroscopy
- Hip Dislocation
- Hip Flexor Strains
- Hip Fractures
- Hip Hemiarthroplasty
- Hip Muscle Strains
- Hyperextension Injury of the Elbow
- Iliotibial Band Syndrome
- Interventional Pain Management
- Interventional Spine
- Intraarticular Calcaneal Fracture
- Knee & Leg
- Kyphosis
- Labral Tears Of The Hip (Acetabular Labrum Tears)
- Lateral Collateral Ligament (LCL) Injuries
- Lisfranc Injuries
- LITTLE LEAGUER'S ELBOW (MEDIAL APOPHYSITIS)
- MACI
- MAKO Knee Replacement Surgery
- MAKO Total Hip Replacement
- Mallet, Hammer & Claw Toes
- Medial Collateral Ligament Injuries
- Meniscus Tears
- Metatarsalgia
- Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery
- Morton’s Neuroma
- Muscle Spasms
- NAVIO Surgical System
- Nerve Pain
- Neuromas (Foot)
- Olecranon Stress Fractures
- Orthopaedic Total Wellness
- Orthopedic Trauma
- Osteoarthritis of the Hip
- Osteoporosis
- Outpatient Spine Surgery
- Partial Knee Replacement
- Patellar Fracture
- Pelvic Ring Fractures
- Peripheral Nerve Surgery (Hand) Revision
- Pinched Nerve
- Plantar Fasciitis
- Podiatrist or Orthopaedic Physician?
- Primary Care Orthopedics Sports Medicine
- PROstep™ Minimally Invasive Surgery for Bunions
- Quadriceps Tendon Tear
- Revascularization of the Hand
- Reverse Total Shoulder Replacement
- Revision Knee Surgery
- Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) of the Shoulder
- Rheumatoid Arthritis Of The Hand
- Robotics
- ROSA® Knee Robotic Surgical Assistant
- Sciatica
- Scoliosis
- Senior Strong
- Shin Splints
- Shoulder
- Shoulder Arthritis
- Shoulder Arthroscopy
- Shoulder Replacement
- Shoulder Socket Fracture (Glenoid Fracture)
- SLAP Tears & Repairs
- Spinal Fusion
- Spine
- Spondylolisthesis and Spondylolysis
- Sports Hernias (Athletic Pubalgia)
- Sports Medicine
- Sprained Ankle
- Sudden (Acute) Finger, Hand & Wrist Injuries
- Targeted Muscle Reinnervation (TMR)
- Tendon Transfers of The Hand
- Tennis Elbow
- Thigh Fractures
- Thigh Muscle Strains
- Total Ankle Replacement
- Total Hip Arthroplasty
- Total Hip Replacement - Anterior Approach
- Total Knee Replacement
- Triceps Tendonitis
- Trigger Finger
- UCL (Ulnar Collateral Ligament) Injuries
- Ulnar Neuritis
- Valgus Extension Overload
- Verilast
- Vertebroplasty
- WALANT (Wide Awake Local Anesthesia No Tourniquet)
- Whiplash and Whiplash Associated Disorder (WAD)
- Wrist Arthroscopy
- Wrist Fractures
- Wrist Sprains
- Wrist Tendonitis