Hip Labral Tear
Sharp, catching groin pain in an active adult — the diagnosis that hides in plain sight.
Overview
Understanding hip labral tear
The labrum is a suction-seal of cartilage rimming your hip socket. Tears in active adults rarely happen alone — most ride on top of femoroacetabular impingement (FAI), a subtle shape mismatch that pinches the labrum during deep hip flexion.
That's the key insight of modern hip preservation: treat the shape, not just the tear. Repairing a labrum while ignoring the impingement that tore it invites the problem back.
Symptoms
What it feels like
- Groin pain with deep squats, long sitting, or pivoting
- Catching, clicking, or locking sensations
- The "C-sign" — cupping the hip between thumb and fingers to describe the pain
- Stiffness rotating the leg inward
Common causes
Why it happens
- Femoroacetabular impingement (cam or pincer shape variations)
- Repetitive deep-flexion athletics — hockey, dance, squatting sports
- Dysplasia (a shallow socket) — which changes the treatment entirely
- Acute twisting injury
Diagnosis
How it's diagnosed
X-rays measure the shape story; MRI arthrogram confirms the labral tear and screens cartilage. A diagnostic injection is often the decisive test — if numbing the joint erases the pain, the hip is the source. Careful attention separates impingement from dysplasia, because arthroscopy helps one and can harm the other.
Treatment
The full range of options
Non-surgical
Movement-pattern rehabilitation
Core and glute control with temporary avoidance of deep impingement positions calms many labral hips — the standard first phase for most patients.
Injection therapy
Intra-articular injection settles inflammation and confirms the diagnosis in one step.
Surgical
Hip arthroscopy with labral repair & shape correction
Through small incisions: the labrum is repaired to the rim and the impinging bone is precisely reshaped — addressing cause and consequence in one procedure.
Recovery
The road back
After hip arthroscopy, expect crutches for a few weeks, early motion work to prevent stiffness, and progressive strengthening. Return to sport typically lands in the four-to-six-month range, guided by strength and movement testing.
Dr. Johnson's approach
Dr. Johnson evaluates the whole shape story — impingement, dysplasia, cartilage status, and your sport — before recommending anything. When arthroscopy is right, the labrum is repaired and the underlying shape corrected, because fixing the tear without the cause is half an operation.
Straight answers
Frequently Asked Questions
The information on this site is for education only and is not a medical diagnosis or a substitute for professional medical advice. Every patient is different — please consult Dr. Johnson or a qualified provider about your specific condition.
Ready when you are
Take the first step past hip labral tear
A focused evaluation, an honest conversation, and a plan built for your goals.