About hip labral tears and FAI
The labrum is a rim of cartilage around the hip socket that deepens it and helps seal the joint. In femoroacetabular impingement, extra bone on the ball, the socket, or both causes them to pinch together when the hip bends deeply. Over time, that pinching can fray or tear the labrum.
Many people have hip shapes that look like FAI on imaging without any pain, so findings on a scan need to match your symptoms. Snapping hip, where a tendon flicks over bone, can feel similar but has a different cause. Sorting these apart helps us avoid treatment that is not needed.
Common symptoms
- Deep groin or front-of-hip pain
- Clicking, catching, or locking in the hip
- Pain with deep squats, long sitting, or getting in and out of a car
- Pain with pivoting or cutting in sports
- Hip stiffness or reduced ability to rotate the leg inward
Common causes and risk factors
- Hip shape differences present from growth, such as cam or pincer impingement
- Sports with repeated deep hip bending and twisting, such as hockey, soccer, and dance
- A specific twisting injury or fall
- Loose hip ligaments or mild hip dysplasia
How we diagnose it
Our physicians test hip motion and use specific maneuvers that reproduce impingement. Ultrasound at the exam table checks the front of the joint, the hip flexor tendon, and any snapping, and it guides a diagnostic injection that can confirm whether pain comes from inside the joint. X-rays show hip shape, and an MRI arthrogram may be ordered when surgery is being considered.
How Propel treats hip labral tears and FAI
Most people start with a structured rehab plan that strengthens the hip and core, adjusts deep-bending positions for a while, and gradually returns them to sport. Many people improve without surgery. An ultrasound-guided injection can ease pain and clarify the diagnosis at the same time.
For ongoing pain, orthobiologics such as PRP or microfragmented adipose tissue (MFAT; your own fat tissue, gently processed) may be considered to ease pain and improve function. They do not repair the labrum or change the shape of the bone. When mechanical symptoms or pain persist despite good rehab, we help coordinate referral to a hip arthroscopy surgeon.
What to expect at your visit
- 1.
We listen first
Your visit opens with a real conversation: how the problem started, what you have already tried, and the activity you want back.
- 2.
Exam and in-office ultrasound
A hands-on exam, then ultrasound at the exam table, often while you move, so your physician can see the tendon, joint, or nerve involved.
- 3.
A clear diagnosis and plan
You leave knowing what is wrong and what your options are, from strength-based rehab to procedures, and why we recommend each one.
- 4.
Treatment and follow-through
Most procedures happen here in the office. We coordinate with your physical therapist and check progress against the goals you set.
Questions about hip labral tears and FAI
- Does every hip labral tear need surgery?
- No. Many labral tears improve with a well-designed strength program and activity changes. Surgery is usually considered when pain and catching persist despite several months of good rehab.
- Why was my hip labral tear found but I have no pain?
- Labral changes and impingement-type hip shapes are common on imaging in people without symptoms. A scan finding alone does not decide treatment. We match what the imaging shows to your exam and symptoms.
- What is a diagnostic hip injection?
- It places numbing medicine into the hip joint under ultrasound. If your usual pain goes away for a few hours, the joint is likely the source. This helps guide decisions about further treatment.