Hip Labral Tear

Hip Labral Tear – Are you a former baseball player, a pitcher, or a power hitter? Did you have many hip and groin injuries when you played? The repetitive powerful twists of the hips and forceful movements could have taken a toll on your body. In 2013, Alex Rodriguez, aka A-Rod, underwent left hip labrum repair for this injury that delayed his return to baseball.

What is a labral tear of the hip?

● A labral tear of the hip joint is a result of damage in the cartilage lining of the acetabulum.
● A tear can cause mild, moderate, or severe hip and groin pain and joint stiffness that may be sudden or progressively worsen.

Causes

● Labral tears can be caused by a direct impact to the hip because of trauma, motor vehicle accidents, collisions, dislocations, and falls (falling onto the side of the hip with a lot of weight).
● Gradual hip labral tears are caused by repetitive strains (golfers, ballet dancers, baseball pitchers, and hockey player who are constantly swinging and twisting their hips) or an impingement of the labrum (femoroacetabular impingement) that can come on gradually through wear and tear.

Signs and symptoms

● pain in the hip or groin
● a clicking and rubbing of the joint
● stiffness
● decreased mobility in the hip joint Treatment
● Treatment for a hip labral tear requires a physical exam to assess range of motion (ROM).
● X-rays will reveal abnormalities in the joint and any changes in the shape of the hip bone.
● Magnetic Resonance Imaging scans (MRI) will provide detailed pictures of the soft tissue cartilage and labrum.
● Further treatment may require surgery (labrum debridement or labrum repair via arthroscopy) followed by rehab to restore full strength and movement to the hip joint and prevent further injuries or instability.
● Prognosis is particularly good.
● If surgery is refused, the injury could degenerate into a worn hip joint with eroding of the cartilage on the ends of the bones, and the development of osteoporosis in the affected hip.