Torn Hip Labrum Treatment in Dallas and Frisco, TX
Labrum Tear, Hip Labral Tear
The muscles in our hips give us a strong foundation for everything we do. Walking, sitting, running, and jumping all use muscles in the hips. The cartilage in your hips helps your joints move smoothly, but damage to this tissue can result in a labrum tear. Hip mobility is an important part of full-body mobility. Hip injuries can take us out of commission for a while. At SPORT Orthopedics + Physical Therapy, our specialists can treat your injuries and get you back to the life you want to live. If you’re experiencing hip pain, contact our Dallas orthopedic specialists today. Call us at (469) 200-2832 to schedule an appointment with a team of experienced Frisco orthopedic surgeons today.
Anatomy of the Hip
Your hip joint is a ball and socket joint, which allows your leg to move in multiple directions. The femoral head of your thigh bone makes up the “ball,” which fits perfectly into the hip socket. This socket is the acetabulum. Cartilage along the socket cushions the hip bones and lets the bones move smoothly together. This cartilage also holds the femur securely in the hip joint. The cartilage inside the socket is called the acetabular labrum. Damage to this cartilage can result in severe pain and stiffness in your hip joint.
What Is a Hip Labral Tear?
Your body has four labrums: one in each hip joint and one in each shoulder joint. This rubbery tissue cushions the edge of the hip joint and lets your hip move in all the fun ways it moves. Too much stress or repetitive motions can cause this tissue to wear down prematurely. Trauma or structural abnormalities can cause the labrum to detach from the hip socket. A labral tear of the hip can be a severely painful injury that requires surgery to fully recover.
How Does a Labral Tear Happen?
In most cases, a hip labral tear is a wear-and-tear injury. As you perform daily living activities, the labrum can wear down and become more fragile. A structural abnormality of the hip can also cause a labral tear. Hip dysplasia or hip impingement can cause the femoral head of the femur to fit poorly into the hip socket. This poor fit can cause significant stress on the labrum and increase the risk of a labral tear. Hip labrum tears can also happen after a traumatic event, like a fall, a car accident, or a serious impact during a sport. No matter what caused your injury, the specialists at SPORT can help you find the pain relief you need.
Risk Factors for Hip Labral Tears
Some people have a higher risk of a hip labral tear than others. Athletes, especially those in contact sports, have a substantially higher risk of joint injuries than other people. Rotating sports like golf and softball can also increase your risk of a hip labrum injury. Women have a higher risk of hip dysplasia, which can cause hip labral tears.
Symptoms of a Hip Labral Tear
Hip pain can be attributed to any number of issues. Poor sleeping habits, overusing the joint, and pulled groin muscles can all have similar symptoms. So what does a hip labral tear feel like? Some people can have a torn hip labrum and continue living their life with no pain. Other people may experience severe hip and groin pain. Symptoms can present differently in different people, so make sure to tell your doctor about any and all symptoms. Common hip labral tear symptoms can include:
- Sharp pain in front or back of hip
- Stiffness in joint
- Groin pain
- Walking with a limp
- Clicking sounds in joint when walking
Related conditions can include a hip flexor strain, hip pointer injuries, and dancer’s hip.
Different Types of Hip Labral Tears
A hip labrum tear can happen in two different areas along the labrum. Anterior tears happen along the front of the joint, and posterior tears occur along the back of the joint. Anterior tears are the most common type of hip labral tear. This is most likely due to the labrum being wider and thinner along the anterior section. Anterior tears are most often caused by repetitive motions, while posterior tears are caused by sudden trauma. No matter which type of labral tear you have, you can trust the experts at SPORT Orthopedics + Physical Therapy to get you back to living the life you love.
How Are Labral Tears Diagnosed?
To diagnose a labral tear, your doctor may use a mixture of a physical exam and imaging tests. Non-specialized doctors may miss a labral tear diagnosis for months. It may present as a groin strain or other muscle condition. For a full diagnosis, you often need an MRI scan. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) can give a detailed view of the muscle structure in your hip and help give a more accurate view of the tear. These imaging tests can help your doctor determine the best treatment plan for your hip labrum tear.
Treatment for Hip Labrum Tears at SPORT Orthopedics + Physical Therapy
Labral tears can be treated with hip labral tear surgery, conservative treatment, or a mixture of both. The extent of your injury and how active you are can determine which plan your doctor will recommend. At SPORT, our orthopedic professionals will examine your injury and determine the best treatment plan for you. Hip labral tear treatment often involves surgery, but your doctor may recommend nonsurgical treatments if the tear is not severe. While a torn labrum will not heal without surgery, some tears can be managed with only conservative treatments.
Non-Surgical Treatment for Torn Labrum
Depending on the extent of your injury, nonsurgical treatments are often enough to manage pain and provide sufficient relief. With the help of a physical therapist, you can strengthen the muscles in your hip to relieve some of the pain. Range-of-motion exercises can keep your joint limber, and reduce pain and stiffness. Steroid shots can help reduce inflammation and help manage pain. For a severe tear, your doctor may recommend labral tear surgery.
Labral Tear Surgery
Hip labral tear surgery is an option for people with active lifestyles or a severe tear. Surgery is also an option if conservative treatment doesn’t provide the pain relief you need. This type of surgery is called a hip arthroscopy procedure. During an arthroscopic procedure, your orthopedic surgeon will make a small incision in your hip. Depending on your tear, your surgeon may either remove the detached pieces of the labrum or reattach them to your hip socket. In some cases, a cartilage transplant may be recommended. You’ll have to use crutches after the surgery for a prescribed length of time. You’ll also have to work with a physical therapist after surgery to ensure you get full range of motion back and improve muscle strength around the hip.
How Long Does It Take To Recover From a Torn Labrum?
The recovery time for a torn hip labrum depends on a few different factors. Severe tears often require a longer healing time than minor tears. In general, labral tears can take up to six weeks for a full recovery. Athletes may need a slightly longer recovery period to prevent future injuries. Athletes can generally return to their sport between 2 and 6 months after treatment.
Can a Hip Labral Tear Heal Without Treatment?
After a hip labrum tear, some people experience little to no pain and continue their daily activities as normal. This does not mean that the tear will heal itself. In fact, a 2012 study examined people without hip pain and found labral tears in 69% of the participants. Unlike other soft tissue injuries, a torn labrum cannot heal fully without surgical treatment. Minor tears can be managed with conservative treatment, but wear and tear can make the injury worse over time. For severe tears, your doctor will likely recommend a surgical repair.
Call the Specialists at SPORT Orthopedics and Physical Therapy Today
The specialists at SPORT Orthopedics + Physical Therapy know how devastating an injury can be. That’s why our board-certified orthopedic providers work hard to help you get your life back. At SPORT, you’ll get a treatment plan that works for you. We know how busy life can get–that’s why we offer same-day service and Saturday appointments.
Call us today at (469) 200-2832 to schedule your appointment with the premier Frisco orthopedic specialists at SPORT Orthopedics + Physical Therapy.
