Treating Hip Labral Tears

 

Essentially, the hip labrum is the circular cartilage tissue over the outer surface of the hip bone sockets and the ball-like heads of the thighbones. It maintains a strong and flexible cushioning for this ball-and-socket joint while allowing a significant range of motion. As it rims around the joint, it locks the joint fluids within the joint capsule and helps align the bones when pivoting or sprinting. 

Despite its flexibility, the labral cartilage can get strained due to overuse or extensive stress and develop a tear. Though mild hip labral tears can be managed nonsurgically, severe tears may require you to undergo an arthroscopy in Mumbai.

What Causes Hip Labral Tears?

Such tears are more common in athletes involved in running and pivoting sports, like football, hockey, cricket, golf, etc., where the labrum is continually strained and overused. Other causes of hip labral tears may include:

Hip Impingement: In this condition, either of the joint bones develop excess bone into the joint capsule and destabilize the joint. This can put extra strain on the labrum.

Capsular Laxity: If the ligaments that connect the hip ball-and-socket joint become loose due to any reason, it can increase the load on the labrum to keep them aligned.

Traumatic Injuries: micro-injuries to the labrum caused by regular overuse of the joint can gradually add up and lead to a significant tear. Contrarily, a severe vehicular accident or sports injury to the leg can cause a direct tear in the labrum.

Structural Abnormalities: people born with structural abnormality disorders like hip dysplasia develop hip sockets that do not support the thighbone’s head, eventually damaging the labrum.

What Are The Symptoms Of Hip Labral Tears?

Hip pain is a common symptom among anyone who develops hip labral tears. The pain is more often in the frontal groin area and varies depending on the location and severity of the tear. Patients experience a constant dull pain when at rest and sharp stinging pain when moving around. You may also experience other symptoms, such as:

●        Instability in the hip while walking

●        Discomfort while standing for a long time

●        Locking or clicking sensations in the hip

●        Limited range of motion in the thighs

 

How Are Hip Labral Tears Treated?

Mild labral tears that do not hinder your routine activities significantly can be managed with medical and physical therapies. Many arthroscopy doctors also offer hip replacement alternative treatment in Mumbai, which includes a course of NSAIDs, pain relief medications, and corticosteroid injections. You may have to see a physiotherapist who can guide you with specific exercises to improve your affected leg’s movement and increase muscle strength.

However, if the tear grows severe or is readily severe, you may have to undergo a hip arthroscopy in Mumbai. Arthroscopy is a minimally invasive surgery performed through tiny hole incisions and is assisted by an endoscope camera. During the surgery, depending on the causes of your labral tear, the surgeon may debride the cartilage to remove any broken debris, repair the torn tissues with sutures, or replace the labrum cartilage.