Arthroscopic image showing a torn hip labrum at the acetabular rim 
Hip labral tear visualised at arthroscopy.

What is a labral tear of the hip?

A hip labral tear is a common cause of deep groin, hip, or buttock pain. Many cases can be successfully treated with hip arthroscopy.

Your hip is a ball-and-socket joint formed by the femoral head (ball) and the acetabulum (socket). The labrum is a ring of fibrocartilage that deepens the socket, maintains the suction seal, and helps stabilise and lubricate the joint. When the labrum tears, it typically causes deep groin pain, and some patients notice catching, clicking, or locking. Labral tissue has limited blood supply and generally does not heal on its own.

Symptoms of a Labral Tear of the Hip

Symptoms are usually felt as deep groin pain (often shown by the “C-sign,” cupping the hand over the side of the hip). Pain can radiate to the front of the hip, the buttock, or the lower back.

Early symptoms may occur only during sport; with time, pain can appear during everyday activities that bring the knee towards the chest, such as:

  • Sitting in low chairs; getting up from chairs
  • Driving or prolonged sitting (e.g., long flights)
  • Putting on socks and shoes
  • Picking items up from the floor
  • Climbing stairs, twisting, pivoting, or deep squatting

Some people recall a distinct moment with a pop or tearing sensation; others report clicking or a feeling of giving way.

Causes of Hip Labral Tears

The most common underlying factor is Femoroacetabular Impingement (FAI). In FAI, either the ball (CAM) has a bony bump or the socket (PINCER) has extra rim bone. These shapes can pinch the labrum and eventually tear it.

Labral tears may also occur with hip dysplasia (shallow socket), traumatic events (falls, collisions), and with repetitive cutting/pivoting sports (AFL, soccer, hockey, tennis, netball). As we age, small movements can tear a degenerate labrum.

Risk factors for Sustaining Labral Tears

  • Femoroacetabular impingement (FAI)
  • Hip dysplasia (shallow socket)
  • Sports involving cutting, pivoting, and deep hip flexion (AFL, soccer, hockey, tennis, netball)
  • Repetitive deep squats and lunges; rapid increases in training load
  • Previous hip injuries

Investigations for Labral Tears

A trained clinician often suspects a labral tear from your history and examination. Imaging helps confirm diagnosis and plan care:

  • Specialised X-rays: assess bone shape (head–neck offset and acetabular coverage).
  • CT (3D reconstruction): maps the 3D bony morphology and assists surgical planning when FAI is present.
  • MRI: best for the labrum and cartilage. Even good scans can miss some tears; an image-guided diagnostic injection may help confirm the hip joint as the pain source.

Treatment of Labral Tears

Labral tears rarely heal on their own, but the symptoms of the labral tear may improve. If symptoms persist despite non-operative care (activity modification, targeted analgesia, and physiotherapy), we usually consider hip arthroscopic surgery.

Labral repair: the tear and acetabular rim are prepared so the labrum can sit back anatomically. Suture anchors reattach the labrum to bone, restoring the suction seal. Depending on tissue quality and stability needs, some tears are debrided rather than repaired.

When FAI is present, we also address the underlying CAM/PINCER morphology in the same operation to reduce re-tearing risk and protect cartilage.

Hip labral repair showing anchor placement at the acetabular rim
Sutures passed through the labrum prior to tying
Completed labral repair with tied sutures restoring the suction seal

What if a tear is left untreated?

A healthy labrum is important for joint stability and cartilage protection. An untreated, symptomatic tear may accelerate cartilage wear and increase the risk of hip osteoarthritis. We balance potential benefits and risks for your individual situation.

Seeking Advice

Your GP

Your family doctor can assess your symptoms, start initial care, prescribe medications, and refer you to an orthopaedic surgeon when needed.

Sports Physician

A sports physician specialises in non-operative management of athletic injuries and can guide injections, load management, and return-to-sport planning.

Physiotherapist

Rehabilitation for labral tears is highly specific. Some generic hip programs can aggravate symptoms. Our physiotherapy team tailors exercises to your hip mechanics.

Orthopaedic Surgeon

A surgeon with hip arthroscopy expertise can advise whether repair, debridement, and FAI correction are appropriate in your case.

Prevention

If you have confirmed FAI, avoid deep squats, prolonged deep sitting, and repetitive twisting/pivoting until the impingement has been addressed. Build hip and core strength gradually, and avoid rapid spikes in training load.

FAQ

What is the recovery like after a labral repair?

Most people go home the next morning. Plan at least 2 weeks off office-based work (longer for manual roles). A staged program is tailored to you, but as a general guide:

  • Office work: ~2 weeks
  • Manual work: ~6 weeks (individualised)
  • Week 4: stationary cycling
  • Week 6: treadmill walking progressing towards jogging when strength and mechanics allow

Do all labral tears need surgery?

No. Some improve with load modification, pain strategies, and targeted physiotherapy. We consider surgery if symptoms persist or if there is mechanical conflict from FAI.

Is repair always better than debridement?

When feasible, repair aims to restore the suction seal and stability. Debridement (tidying frayed tissue) may be chosen for small, unstable flaps or poor-quality tissue.

When can I drive?

Avoid driving for at least 48 hours after anaesthetic and until you can safely control the vehicle (often ~1 week for the left hip in automatic cars; longer for right-sided procedures or manual vehicles).

Further Reading and References