What is a labral tear?
A labral tear in the hip can be caused by many different reasons. Some tears can result from an acute injury, such as a fall or a sporting injury when their hip is forced into extreme positions. It can also be damaged by repetitive trauma in sports that require regular rotation of the hip. However, more commonly, labral tears occur as a result of an underlying bone abnormality known as femoroacetabular impingement (FAI).
Do I need a labral repair?
If a hip labral tear causes significant hip pain, and symptoms do not improve with conservative measures, Dr. Potts may recommend surgery to repair or reconstruct the labrum and fix any underlying structural abnormality that may have caused the labral tear. Indications include:
- Persistent pain in the groin with weight bearing exercises and activities that has failed conservative management
- Mechanical symptoms with rotational activities
- Concomitant femoral acetabular impingement (FAI) with a repairable acetabular labral tear
What happens during a labral repair?
Dr. Potts performs labral repairs arthroscopically through 3 small incisions around the hip. Arthroscopic instruments are used reattach the torn labrum to the acetabulum, where it normally is firmly attached, by using suture and suture anchors to secure it. During the same procedure, Dr. Potts can also remove the pathologic bone responsible for the impingement, re-contouring both the ball and socket in order to restore normal anatomy. Labral repairs can relieve pain associated with hip labrum tears and improve the stability of the hip joint by restoring the suction seal function of the labrum.
Recovery from hip arthroscopy ranges from patient to patient. Typically, patients reach a clinical improvement between 3 and 6 months post-surgery. However, clinical improvement can continue up to two years post-surgery.
A video of an acetabular labral repair by Dr. Potts can be viewed below, or on YouTube by clicking here.
