A hip labral injury, commonly known as a hip labral tear, is a damage to the labrum of your hip joint. The severity of a hip labral tear varies from mild – where the labrum has a minor tear or frays at the edges, to severe – where the labrum separates from the socket or the acetabulum of the pelvis.

There are 2 types of hip labral tears, these are:

• Anterior hip labral tear: occurs on the front of the hip joint and is the most common type of hip labral tear.
• Posterior hip labral tear: occurs on the back of the hip joint.

• Repetitive motions: constant twisting or pivoting movements in sports such as golf, baseball, and softball, can cause wear and tear of the labrum, leading to a hip labral tear. 
• Trauma: car accidents or high contact sports such as rugby and hockey, can cause a hip labral tear. 
• Structural abnormalities of the hip joint: individuals with hip disorders such as hip dysplasia or femoroacetabular impingement (FAI) can cause increased wear and tear of the labrum, leading to hip labral tears.  
• Arthritis: osteoarthritis, a disorder of the cartilage between bones, can cause wear and tear of the labrum, resulting in a hip labral tear.

• Pain in your hip or groin area
• Stiffness in your hip joint
• Clicking, locking, or catching sensation in your hip joint
• Limited range of motion
• Feeling unstable or like your hip could give way
• Pain that worsens with prolonged sitting, standing, or walking
• Pain during activities that involve running, jumping, or pivoting

This pain is usually felt in your groin area, but it can also radiate to the hip, buttocks, or thighs. Other symptoms such as stiffness, clicking, locking or catching in your hip joint, decreased range of motion, and weakness may also occur.

However, there are several factors that increase your risk of developing hip labral injuries, these are: 

• Sports: sports that involve twisting or sudden impact on the hips can increase your risk of hip labral injuries. Examples of these high risk sports include, football, golf, running, hockey, and rugby.
• Dancing: dancers are more prone to developing hip labral injuries due to frequent and repetitive twisting hip movements.
• Medical conditions: individuals with underlying hip conditions such as hip dysplasia, femoroacetabular impingement (FAI), or osteoarthritis are also at a higher risk of developing hip labral injuries.
• Age: older individuals are more susceptible to developing hip labral injuries due to degenerative changes in their hip joints.

• Physical examination: your orthopaedist will review your medical history and observe how you move your leg around and walk, this is to identify any areas of pain or discomfort. 
• Imaging tests: x-rays, computed tomography scans (CT-scan), and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) will be performed to help confirm the diagnosis and rule out other underlying medical conditions.

Treatment options include:

• Medications: pain relievers and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) ▸ will be prescribed to manage pain and inflammation.
• Injections: corticosteroid injections may be administered to manage pain and inflammation.
• Physiotherapy: physiotherapy involves gentle and therapeutic exercises to regain strength, mobility, and range of motion.
• Surgery: for severe cases that require labral repair to reattach the torn labrum, labral reconstruction, and/or hip arthroscopy may be required.