What are Labral Tears?
The labrum is a rim of soft tissue or fibrocartilage that surrounds the acetabulum (hip socket). The labrum adds to the stability of the hip by deepening the socket and protects the joint surface. The labrum can tear as the result of an injury, but is more often related to FAI. The labrum can also tear when there is osteoarthritis in the hip, as a part of the overall degeneration of the joint. When there is a labral tear due to osteoarthritis, treatment is usually geared towards treating the arthritic joint as a whole.
What are the Symptoms of a Labral Tear?
Labral tears often cause pain in the groin or front of the hip during physical activity or with deep flexion (bending) and rotation of the hip. Some individuals with labral tears of the hip will also have clicking or a sense of catching deep within the hip during certain activities.