Hip Labral Tear

If you’re suffering from hip or groin pain, you may be wondering what is causing it. Hip pain is the most common symptom of a hip labral tear. In some cases, it develops gradually because of repetitive stress to the area from playing sports or other personal habits. Those who fall or suffer a major trauma may suddenly experience pain. Here are the symptoms to look out for:

• Groin Pain: While at rest, you may experience a deep, dull ache. During activities, the pain may be stinging and sharp. Pain is often felt in an area that makes a “C sign” around the side of the hip. In some cases, pain may also occur in the buttocks, thigh, or down to the knee.
• Hip Clicking or Catching: Some may feel like the ball of the femur is caught in the hip socket while moving. Sometimes you may even hear a clicking noise while walking or running.
• Hip Stiffness: Decreased mobility may cause stiffness, making it more difficult to use stairs, walk for long periods of time, or participate in the activities you love.
• Instability of the Hip: You may also feel like your hip is going to “give out” while walking or standing for long periods. This instability and pain may also cause you to limp while walking.

Diagnosing a Hip Labral Tear

Since many hip injuries and conditions have similar symptoms, diagnosing a hip labral tear may be tricky and time-consuming. Your doctor starts by conducting a thorough examination including asking questions about your daily habits, symptoms, and medical history. During the physical examination, your doctor will look for swelling and redness around the joint. Also, your doctor will perform an evaluation of joint flexibility, strength, and range of motion. The FABER test may also be used. This test involves manipulating the leg and applying gentle pressure on the knee to see if your hip pain is caused by a hip labral tear.

After the examination, your doctor may elect to perform diagnostic testing to rule out other conditions and take a better look at the area. For example, an MRI gives a detailed look at the soft tissues that surround the hip joint. A hip injection may also help your doctor confirm his or her diagnosis. During this procedure, a numbing medicine is injected into the affected area. If your pain goes away, chances are you’re suffering from a hip labral tear.

Depending on the severity of your hip labral tear, your doctor will recommend several treatment options. In most cases, nonsurgical treatments are the first options for treating your pain. If these conservative treatments don’t provide pain relief, minimally invasive surgery may be the next option.

Nonsurgical Treatment Options

One of the main goals of treating this condition, especially a minor tear, is pain management. Your doctor may recommend some of the following conservative treatments:

• Resting the Area: Taking some time away from the activities that cause you pain can help the hip to recover. Your doctor may also recommend icing or heating the area around the hips for pain relief.
• Over-the-Counter Medications: Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS) like ibuprofen can reduce inflammation and pain in your hip.
• Physical Therapy: A physical therapist may choose to strengthen the areas surrounding the hip using manual manipulation. In addition, a physical therapist can provide you with exercise routines and adaptations to increase flexibility and stability to the area.
• Chiropractic Care: A chiropractor will help determine and correct misalignments in the body and spine. Chiropractors use many different adjustment techniques based on your individual symptoms and conditions.

Surgical Treatment Options

If more conservative treatments haven’t helped with your hip pain after two or three months, minimally invasive surgery may be the next option. Arthroscopic hip surgery uses a small incision to insert a tiny camera into the hip. This procedure allows the orthopedic surgeon to take a closer look at the area and use small surgical tools to repair the joint. Since the procedure is minimally invasive, you can expect less damage to the body, scarring, and pain after surgery. In addition, recovery times are usually faster.

The most common surgical procedures for a hip labral tear include:

• Labral Debridement: Removing torn or weakened parts of the labrum that get caught in the hip joint.
• Labral Repair: If the labrum has separated from the bone, this procedure reattaches it using anchors and stitching.
• Labral Replacement: This newer procedure uses a graft to replace a severely damaged labrum.

Finding Help for your Hip Labral Tear

Is your hip pain keeping from the activities you love? Have you tried to manage it yourself without success? Our team at NJ Spine & Orthopedic is ready to help you get your life back. We care about listening to your symptoms and goals for treatment. In most cases, our doctors give you conservative options to consider before they recommend surgery.

If you do end up needing arthroscopic hip surgery, our experienced joint and hip doctors use the latest technology and techniques to take care of your hip issues and get you back on your feet.

Your time is precious…why spend it in pain? Schedule a consultation at NJ Spine & Orthopedic today to discover how we can get you back to doing the things you love.