Shoot from the Hip!

ESPN just reported that star Washington Mystics player, Shakira Austin, underwent hip surgery to repair a torn labrum in her left hip. Let’s learn more about this type of hip injury. Dr. Kim from Boston Children's Hospital describes labral tears as a common hip injury especially in young athletes. It’s more common to see these types of injuries in sports that require a lot of rotational or twisting leg motions such as with goalies in hockey, dancers/ballet, golf, soccer and football.

The hip labrum is a ring of cartilage that follows the outside rim of the hip joint socket (www.mayoclinic.org). This cartilage cushions the hip joint as well as helps hold the ball of the femur securely within the hip socket. As mentioned above, certain sports can lead to tears of the labrum.  In addition, structural problems like hip dysplasia or femoroacetabular impingement can increase the risk of labral tears occurring.  Trauma can also cause tears in the labrum.

Labral tears can be small or just involve fraying at the edges (hopkinsmedicine.org) or a segment of the labrum can separate or tear away. Tears can occur anywhere in the labrum.  Some physicians will describe a tear based on its location: either anterior (front of the hip joint – more common) or posterior (back of the hip joint).

Mild labral tears can cause no signs or symptoms. Some can experience pain in the hip worsening with increasing activity, a clicking or catching sensation in the hip joint, and stiffness in the hip joint.  Imaging tests like x-ray, MRI or CT scan will likely be needed to aid in the diagnosis of a labral tear (my.clevelandclinic.org).

An important piece of information to note is that hip labral tears will not heal on their own. Surgery is the only way to repair a tear.  That said, conservative options can be used to manage the symptoms and to possibly avoid surgery. Over the counter pain medicines for pain control, steroids to reduce inflammation, and physical therapy to increase hip flexibility are effective measures to avoid surgery.

If surgery is required, hip arthroscopy techniques are usually used (Woyski et al, Current Review of Musculoskeletal Medicine 2019 Set 12 (3)). Surgery focuses on three phases; debridement, repair and reconstruction. Recovery from surgery can take up to 6 to 12 weeks on average.

Figure from https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/hip-labral-tear/symptoms-causes/syc-20354873