Overview

Labral Tear (Hip)

The hip labrum is a ring of cartilage that forms a tight seal around the rim of the hip socket. In addition to having numerous nerve endings, it is important for movement awareness as well as joint preservation. The labrum preserves a fluid seal within the hip joint that not only is critical for hip stability but also for reducing the pressure on the cartilage surfaces.

When a labral tear occurs, it most commonly happens due to femoro-acetabular impingement (FAI). FAI occurs due to an overgrowth of bone in the hip joint.

The labrum usually peels back as it is torn. Unfortunately, without surgery, the labrum has very limited capacity to heal due to the limited blood supply in the hip.