If you’re experiencing hip pain, stiffness and clicking or popping as you move your hip, you may have a hip labral tear. This is an injury that affects the labrum of the hip joint.

The rim of cartilage tissue that lines the acetabulum is found within the hip socket. This cartilage tissue prevents the bones in the hip from coming into direct contact and grinding against each other during movement. Tears in the labrum result in damage that causes pain and stiffness in the hip joint.

Below, we explore various options for labral tear hip treatment.

What Is the Best Treatment for a Labral Tear in The Hip?

While surgery is the only way to actually repair a hip labral tear, it is only recommended for severe tears or when the condition affects the patient’s quality of life.

Non-surgical treatments to help manage the symptoms of the condition are often recommended. Your healthcare provider will examine your injury and determine the best approach for treating your condition.

Hip Labral Tear Recovery without Surgery

Non-surgical treatment options are aimed at:

• Relieving the joint of excessive stress and thereby preventing further damage
• Reducing pain in the buttocks, knee, groin and hip
• Strengthening the tendons, ligaments and muscles in the thigh, pelvis and buttock
• Improve the range of motion within the joint
• Improve the patient’s quality of life e.g. enable them to participate in physical activities

Non-surgical treatment options include:

• Modification of activity and rest

This helps to decrease inflammation in the hip joint. Patients may be advised to limit physical activity or rest completely.

• Taking non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)

These include medications such as ibuprofen and aspirin. These medications help to reduce inflammation in the hip area. These medications however, come with the risk of gastric irritation, cardiac problems and even bleeding in some patients.

• Ice therapy

Placing a cold or ice pack on the hip joint helps to reduce inflammation in the joint. It is an effective way to reduce swelling and pain. This therapy is particularly effective for reducing soreness and swelling associated with physical activities such as exercise and sports.

It is important to avoid applying the ice pack directly to the skin. It should be wrapped in a towel. You should also limit the time of application to 20 minutes. Allow a minimum of 2 hours between applications.

• Heat therapy

This approach involves applying heat packs to the joint. It helps to relieve pain and reduce tension and spasms of the muscles in the area.

This therapy is particularly useful when applied before physical activity. Application of the pack should not exceed 20 minutes at any given session. Allow for a minimum of 2 hours between applications.

• Physical therapy

This is aimed at strengthening muscles and improving hip stability. Exercises for a hip labral tear help to reduce inflammation and pain while strengthening the hip muscles and associated joints. The areas targeted by these movements include the buttocks, pelvis and thighs.

• Intra –articular injection

These injections help to manage pain and allow the patient to progress in their physical therapy. These often involve the use of corticosteroid injections which help to relieve inflammation.

Surgical Treatment

Surgery is the only real way to repair a tear. However, it is reserved for severe cases. The goal of surgical intervention is to conserve the labrum as much as possible. This in turn helps to preserve its sealing effect.

Surgery may be open or minimally invasive depending on the severity and type of injury as well as the presence of other conditions affecting the hip area. This treatment is performed by qualified orthopedic surgeons.

Explore Hip Treatment and Get On With Living Your Best Life

Are you experiencing hip pain? Contact us, Chris Boone, and schedule consultation with an experienced orthopedic surgeon. Find out exactly what is causing the pain and your options for treatment.