LABRAL TEAR SURGERY
Labral tears affect both the hip and shoulder. A hip labral tear affects a circular disc of cartilage, known as the labrum that protects and secures the ball in the hip socket. Hip labral tears are often a result of various, intense sports injuries from hockey, soccer, ballet or golf. In addition to sports injuries, structural deformities of the hip can lead to labral tears in this region.
Symptoms of hip labral tears include:
- Groin or hip pain
- Locking of the hip joint
- Stiffness in the hips
- Poor mobility of the hip
Signs of shoulder labral tears are:
- Sticky shoulder
- Grinding/popping sounds emanating from the shoulder joint
- Pain, particularly in the evenings
Repetitive strain or dislocation of the hip causes labral tears, typically occurring when engaging in extreme sports. There also remains a risk that the labral tears of the hip lead to osteoarthritis. Therefore, you need to see a specialist in orthopaedics when your symptoms persist for six weeks or more. By checking your hip for any noticeable damage concerning the joint’s mobility and range of motion, Dr Gupta will note any changes in terms of your movement and any discomfort or level of pain. For further studies, Dr Gupta will conduct imaging tests. One such test is an x-ray that reveals any damage to the bone in detail. However, an MRI scan reveals abnormalities in the soft tissues of the hip or shoulder. In some cases, dye is injected into the joint’s space to view the labral tear.
Medications such as non-steroidal anti-inflammatories or corticosteroid injections provide temporary pain relief. However, should pain or immobility persist, Dr Gupta will recommend surgery, depending on where the labral tear is. Less invasive (arthroscopic) surgery, which involves creating small incisions over the skin in that area and guiding a light-sourced tube (arthroscope) into one of the openings to repair the torn labral tissue, sewing it together or remove it in part or entirely.
FAQ
Unfortunately, a labral tear such as a hip labral tear cannot heal without intervention. However, Dr Gupta prescribes anti-inflammatories to help manage the pain that accompanies a labral tear.
The labrum supports the rotator cuff muscles and tendons, which is why it is considered a critical component of the joint. Therefore, a sudden tear can lead to an incomplete or complete dislocation.
Hip labral tears are normally repaired through arthroscopic surgery. This is a minimally invasive approach to repairing a tear. The benefits include a much faster recovery, minimal disturbance to surrounding tissue and return of the joint's function.