Acetabular Labral Tear: Impact Causes, Symptoms, and Arthroscopic Repair.
The Labrum is the soft tissue located on the rim of the Acetabulum; it prevents the Femoral Head from slipping out of place by deepening the socket while allowing movement. Being a soft tissue, it is highly prone to tears and injuries.
Athletes in sports such as tennis, handball, soccer, golf, and ballet are more exposed to these injuries due to trauma, impact, repetitive movements, or even degeneration and dysplasia.
This tear can occur as a secondary effect of an underlying pathology, such as Femoroacetabular Impingement; in these cases, the femoral head is not perfectly spherical.
It may have an irregular neck (CAM-type lesions) or the Acetabulum may be retroverted (Pincer-type lesions). In either case, repeated hip flexion causes the patient to unconsciously traumatize the acetabular rim and, consequently, the Labrum, leading to a tear.
Symptoms:
Patients with a labral tear feel groin pain that radiates toward the glute, or the anterior, lateral, or posterior thigh when starting to walk or after sitting for a long time. They gradually lose some mobility, making simple activities like putting on shoes difficult.
Management:
Symptoms are usually persistent and limiting, so a Hip Arthroscopy is performed to repair the Labrum, accompanied by physical therapy focused on improving strength and muscle coordination.
