Hip Labral Repair

Orange County's Expert Hip Surgeons

The hip labrum is a ring of cartilage on the outside rim of the hip joint socket that can be torn from injury, trauma, structural problems, or degenerative issues. A healthy hip labrum serves to cushion the hip joint and act as a rubber seal to hold the top of the thighbone in the hip socket as securely as possible. Athletes who participate in sports such as ice hockey, soccer and football are at higher risk of developing hip labral tears. It is also possible for structural abnormalities of the hip such as femoroacetabular impingement (FAI) or hip dysplasia to lead to a hip labral tear.

Some people have no signs or symptoms, of a hip labral tear, but you may notice one or more of the following:

• Hip or groin pain that worsens from standing, sitting, or walking for extended periods
• Locking, clicking, or catching sensations in the affected hip
• Stiffness of the hip joint
• Pain in the groin or buttocks area
• Feeling unsteady on your feet

What Does Hip Labral Repair Entail?

If symptoms persist after conservative treatments such as anti-inflammatory medication, cortisone injections and physical therapy, your hip surgeon may recommend hip surgery. Hip arthroscopy can repair the labrum by sewing it together or by simply removing the damaged tissue from the area. Your doctor may recommend hip labral repair to improve hip stability, function, range of motion, and to improve hip pain symptoms. You may be encouraged to have surgical treatment because hip labral tears do not heal well on their own because the hip labrum has a limited blood supply, and it cannot reattach itself and heal without surgical intervention.

You will be evaluated as a candidate for hip labrum repair and selected if you are in good overall health and likely to have predictable surgical results. Patients who suffer from hip osteoarthritis in addition to a hip labral tear may undergo total hip replacement surgery. A new hip may be more effective in alleviating pain and restoring hip function.

Do you have a painful hip conditions? Our hip surgeons at
Call Newport Orthopedic Institute are here to help.
Call (949) 722-7038 to make an appointment.

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