Labrum
Labrum is a ring of strong fibrocartilaginous tissue lining around the socket of the hip joint. Labrum serves many functions where it acts as a shock absorber, lubricates the joint, and distributes the pressure equally. It holds the head of the femur in place and prevents the lateral and vertical movement of the femur head within the joint. It also deepens the acetabular cavity and offers stability against femoral head translation.
Causes of Labral Tear
Labral tear may be caused by trauma, femoroacetabular impingement (FAI), hip hypermobility, dysplasia, and degeneration. It is one of the rare conditions and is common in athletes playing sports such as ice hockey, soccer, golf, and ballet. Structural abnormalities may also cause a hip labral tear. Patients may have hip pain, clicking, and locking of the joint and restricted range of motion. Patients may also experience dull pain on movement of the hip joint that may not subside on rest. A hip labral tear is often diagnosed with symptoms, history, physical examination, and radiological techniques. Magnetic resonance arthroscopy may be more appropriate for diagnosing hip labral tear.
Treatment
If your symptoms fail to improve with rest, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, activity modification, or physical therapy, your doctor may recommend surgery. Your doctor may perform arthroscopic surgery using a fiber-optic camera and surgical instruments through the smaller incisions. If possible your doctor will try to repair the torn labrum with sutures. Sometimes a portion of the labrum is missing or is so damaged that it cannot be repaired. In this case, the labrum can be reconstructed with tendon issue to restore normal function
