Hip Labrum Tears & Chondral Lesions

A ring of cartilage called the labrum surrounds the rim of the socket of the hip joint. The labrum provides support and cushioning at the rim of the joint, and it facilitates adequate nutrition of the hip cartilage. It also assists in normal motion of the hip. If you have a torn labrum, the hip can catch, lock and cause pain.

In your joints, the ends of your bones are covered with articular cartilage. This tissue reduces friction to allow for smooth joint movement. Articular cartilage also acts as a shock absorber by protecting the joint during impact activities such as running and jumping. A chondral defect of the hip occurs when you have articular cartilage damage.

Labral tears or chondral lesions can be caused by a variety of factors:

• Hip injury
• Normal wear and tear
• Repetitive motion
• Soft tissue instability in connective tissue diseases, such as Ehlers-Danlos syndrome

If you have femoroacetabular impingement (FAI) — an abnormality of the ball-and-socket joint — you also may have a labral tear or chondral lesion.

Your hip specialist will complete a physical exam, including asking questions about your symptoms and complete health history. We may also order imaging studies, such as X-ray or MRI. Your doctor will use the results of these studies to diagnose your condition and create your individualized treatment plan.

Your hip specialist will likely start with conservative, non-surgical treatment options. If those aren’t enough to control your symptoms, you may need surgery.

Non-Surgical Treatments Your doctor may recommend one or more of the following:

• Injections. You may receive injections to help control your pain.
• Medications. You may take over-the-counter or prescription anti-inflammatory medicine to control your pain and other symptoms.
• Physical therapy. Your hip specialist may refer you for physical therapy. This will concentrate on strengthening the muscles and increasing range of motion.

Surgical Treatments

 If non-operative treatment is unsuccessful, your specialist may recommend surgery. The exact surgical technique can vary based on the size and severity of your condition.

Your surgeon may recommend one of these procedures:

• Hip arthroscopy with labral repair (or debridement or reconstruction, if not repairable)
• Repair of the joint capsule
• Shaving down the head and neck of the thigh bone to make it round again
• Trimming the bony rim if it is too deep or rotated