Hip Labral Tear

If your hip joint hurts, or if it catches or clicks when you move your leg, you may have a hip labral tear. The labrum is a rim of cartilage that surrounds the hip socket. It helps deepen the socket, cushion the joint, and keep the ball of the femur stable. When the labrum is torn, the hip may not move smoothly and can become painful and stiff.

What Is a Hip Labral Tear?

A hip labral tear is an injury to the ring of cartilage that lines the rim of the hip socket. The labrum:

• Deepens the socket for better stability
• Helps create a suction seal around the joint
• Cushions and protects the cartilage surface

When the labrum is damaged or torn, it can:

• Disrupt smooth hip motion
• Cause pain with movement
• Lead to further cartilage wear over time

What Causes a Hip Labral Tear?

Hip labral tears can occur for several reasons, often related to the structure of the hip or repetitive stress.

Common causes include:

• Athletic activities such as football, soccer, golf, or hockey
• Repetitive twisting, pivoting, or cutting movements
• Ballet or other activities requiring extreme hip motion
• Abnormal hip shape, such as femoroacetabular impingement (FAI)
• Degeneration of the joint from osteoarthritis

In some patients, a labral tear develops gradually over time due to underlying hip abnormalities rather than a single injury.

Signs and Symptoms

A torn hip labrum can cause a variety of symptoms, which may be mild at first and worsen over time.

Common signs and symptoms include:

• Pain in the groin or front of the hip
• Pain that worsens with activity, walking, or twisting
• Catching, clicking, or locking sensations in the hip
• Stiffness or reduced range of motion
• A feeling that the hip is “giving way” or not moving smoothly

These symptoms can interfere with sports, exercise, and everyday activities.

Non-Surgical Treatment

Initial treatment for a hip labral tear often focuses on symptom relief and improving hip function.

Non-surgical options may include:

• Medications to reduce pain and inflammation
• Physical therapy to improve hip strength and stability
• Activity modification to avoid painful movements
• Short-term rest from high-impact or repetitive activities

Non-surgical care can help manage symptoms, but it does not repair the torn labrum itself.

Surgical Treatment

If non-surgical, conservative treatment does not provide adequate relief, surgery is a reliable treatment option for many patients with labral tears.

Surgical treatment may include:

• Hip arthroscopy using small incisions and a camera
• Labral repair, where the torn labrum is reattached with anchors and sutures
• Labral debridement or reconstruction, depending on the extent of damage
• Treatment of underlying structural problems such as FAI, if present

Our hip preservation specialist, Benton A. Emblom, MD, is a board-certified, fellowship-trained orthopaedic surgeon who commonly diagnoses and treats hip labral tears.

Benton A. Emblom, MD

Benton A. Emblom, MD, is a board-certified, fellowship-trained orthopaedic sports medicine surgeon who specializes in hip preservation and the treatment of conditions such as hip labral tears and hip impingement. As a member of The Hip Center at Andrews Sports Medicine, he cares for athletes and active individuals who rely on healthy hip function for sports and daily life.

Dr. Emblom serves as a head team orthopaedic physician for Auburn University, the University of Alabama, Hoover High School, and several other local high schools. His expertise in hip arthroscopy and labral repair allows him to offer advanced, individualized treatment plans designed to relieve pain and restore function.

If you believe you may have a hip labral tear or another hip condition and would like to request an appointment with Dr. Emblom, call (205) 939-3699 and ask to speak with his appointment scheduler.

To request an appointment online, CLICK HERE or contact Andrews Sports Medicine & Orthopaedic Center at (205) 939-3699.