Hip Labral Tear and FAI Articles

Acetabular Labral Tears
by Cara L Lewis and Shirley A Sahrmann
PHYS THERVol. 86, No. 1, January 2006, pp. 110-121
Anterior hip or groin pain is a common complaint for which people are referred for physical therapy, with the hip region being involved in approximately 5% to 9% of injuries in high school athletes.1 Although anterior hip pain is known to result from a number of musculoskeletal and systemic pathologies, a tear of the acetabular labrum is a recent addition to the list that is of particular interest to physical therapists. This mechanically induced pathology is thought to result from excessive forces at the hip joint2,3 and has been proposed as part of a continuum of hip joint disease that may result in articular cartilage degeneration.2 Although the number of recent articles in the orthopedic literature identifying acetabular labral tears as a source of hip pain is increasing, labral tears often evade detection, resulting in a long duration of symptoms, greater than 2 years on average, before diagnosis.4–8 Studies have shown that 22% of athletes with groin pain9 and 55% of patients with mechanical hip pain of unknown etiology2 were found to have a labral tear upon further evaluation. In order to provide the most appropriate intervention for patients with anterior hip or groin pain, physical therapists should be knowledgeable about all of the possible sources and causes of this pain, including a tear of the acetabular labrum and the possible factors contributing to these tears. Therefore, the purpose of this article is to review the anatomy and function of the acetabular labrum and present current concepts on the etiology, clinical characteristics, diagnosis, and treatment of labral tears.


Acetabular Labral Tears of the Hip: Examination and Diagnostic Challenges
RobRoy L. Martin, Keelan R. Enseki, Peter Draovitch, Talia Trapuzzano, Marc J. Philippon
J Orthop Sports Phys Ther. 2006:36(7):503-515. doi:10.2519/jospt.2006.2135

The purpose of this clinical commentary is to provide an evidence-based review of the examination process and diagnostic challenges associated with acetabular labral tears of the hip. Once considered an uncommon entity, labral tears have recently received wider recognition as a source of symptoms and functional limitation. Information regarding acetabular labral tears and their association to capsular laxity, femoral acetabular impingement (FAI), dysplasia of the acetabulum, and chondral lesions is emerging.
Physical therapists should understand the anatomical structures of the hip and recognize how the clinical presentation of labral tears is difficult to view isolated from other hip articular pathologies. Clinical examination should consider lumbopelvic and extra-articular pathologies in addition to intra-articular pathologies when assessing for the source of symptoms and functional limitation. If a labral tear is suspected, further diagnostic testing may be indicated. Although up-and-coming evidence suggests that information obtained from patient history and clinical examination can be useful, continued research is warranted to determine the diagnostic accuracy of our examination techniques.
Video of Hip Exam from this Article


The Hip Joint: Arthroscopic Procedures and Postoperative Rehabilitation
Keelan R. Enseki, Peter Draovitch, Bryan T. Kelly, RobRoy L. Martin, Marc J. Philippon, Mara L. Schenker
J Orthop Sports Phys Ther. 2006;36(7):516-525. doi:10.2519/jospt.2006.2138

Recent technological improvements have resulted in a greater number of surgical options available for individuals with hip joint pathology. These options are particularly pertinent to the relatively younger and more active population.
The diagnosis and treatment of acetabular labral tears have become topics of particular interest. Improvements in diagnostic capability and surgical technology have resulted in an increased number of arthroscopic procedures being performed to address acetabular labral tears and associated pathology. Associated conditions include capsular laxity, femoral-acetabular impingement, and chondral lesions. Arthroscopic techniques include labral tear resection, labral repair, capsular modification, osteoplasty, and microfracture procedures.
Postoperative rehabilitation following arthroscopic procedures of the hip joint carries particular concerns regarding range of motion, weight-bearing precautions, and initiation of strength activities. Postoperative rehabilitation protocols that have been typically used for surgeries such as total hip arthroplasty are often not sufficient for the population of patients undergoing arthroscopic procedures of the hip joint. Postoperative rehabilitation should be based upon the principles of tissue healing as well as individual patient characteristics. As arthroscopic procedures to address acetabular labral tears and associated pathology evolve, physical therapists have the opportunity to play a significant role through the development of corresponding rehabilitation protocols.

Video of Hip Arthorscopy from this article


Acetabular Labral Tears

J Bone Joint Surg Am. 2009;91:701-710. doi:10.2106/JBJS.H.00802
Paul E. Beaulé, Michelle O'Neill and Kawan Rakhra
Acetabular labral tears rarely occur in the absence of a structural osseous abnormality.
Labral tears are frequently associated with lesions of acetabular cartilage such as delamination.
Hip arthroscopy is the preferred operative approach in the treatment of labral injuries in the absence of substantial structural osseous abnormalities.

see a later posting for more on this article