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Definition

By Mayo Clinic staff

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Illustration showing hip joint 
Hip joint

A hip labral tear involves the ring of soft elastic tissue, called the labrum, that follows the outside rim of the socket of your hip joint. The labrum acts like a socket to hold the ball at the top of your thighbone (femur) in place.

Athletes who participate in such sports as ice hockey, soccer, football, golf and ballet are at higher risk of developing a hip labral tear. Structural abnormalities of the hip also can lead to a hip labral tear.

Symptoms include hip pain or a "catching" sensation in your hip joint. Initial treatment may include pain relievers and physical therapy. Using arthroscopic techniques, surgeons can remove loose fragments from within the joint and trim or repair the hip labral tear.

References
  1. DeLee JC, et al. Delee & Drez's Orthopaedic Sports Medicine: Principles and Practice. 3rd. ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Saunders Elsevier; 2009. http://www.mdconsult.com/books/page.do?sid=1114018653&eid=4-u1.0-B978-1-4160-3143-7..00021-X--s0040&isbn=978-1-4160-3143-7&type=bookPage&sectionEid=4-u1.0-B978-1-4160-3143-7..00021-X--s0540&uniqId=234934476-3#4-u1.0-B978-1-4160-3143-7..00021-X--s0540. Accessed Feb. 5, 2011.
  2. Groh MM. A comprehensive review of hip labral tears. Current Reviews in Musculoskeletal Medicine. 2009;2:105.
  3. Bharam S. Labral tears, extra-articular injuries, and hip arthroscopy in the athlete. Clinics in Sports Medicine. 2006;25:279.
  4. Kovacevic D, et al. Injuries about the hip in the adolescent athlete. Sports Medicine Arthroscopy Review 2011;19:64.
DS00920 March 25, 2011

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