Hip arthroscopy is a minimally invasive surgery often recommended for labral tears in the hip joint. While it may help relieve pain and improve mobility, the procedure is not always the best option for every patient. 

In some cases, surgery may be performed when other treatments could have been just as effective. If you’re experiencing hip pain, stiffness, or inflammation from a labral tear, you’ve likely come across hip arthroscopy as a treatment option. 

However, you may still be wondering whether the procedure is necessary for you. To understand the necessity of hip arthroscopy for a torn labrum, dive into our guide below.

What Is Labral Tear?

The hip joint is a ball and socket joint in which the former is the femoral head, while the latter is the acetabulum. Every person’s acetabulum is lined by a ring of fibrocartilage called the labrum.

The labrum surrounds the acetabulum and helps keep the hip joint stable. However, this part can tear due to trauma or repetitive movements during a high-impact sport.

A torn labrum, also referred to as a labral tear in orthopedics, may be treated conservatively or surgically. The latter option may be suitable for some symptomatic hip labral tear patients.

What Is Hip Arthroscopy Surgery?

Hip arthroscopy surgery is one of the treatment options available for people with a symptomatic torn labrum. It involves making a small incision around your joint area and inserting a small camera called the arthroscope. 

An orthopedic surgeon can use the arthroscope to visualize the extent of labrum damage and fix it. Surgeons use hip arthroscopy surgery in treatable patients to fix the torn labrum by:

• Trimming the damaged portion

• Removing the torn labrum

• Reattaching the labrum using sutures or anchors

The extent of damage your torn labrum has suffered will determine the approach your orthopedic surgeon will take. That’s because the results vary depending on the patient’s symptoms, extent of labral tear, and other risk or prognostic factors.

Indications Of Hip Arthroscopy

Hip arthroscopy is one of the diagnostic tools used for labral tears. It is also sometimes useful for treating hip pain due to joint trauma, but that depends on the patient factors.

Private hip surgery is not recommended for every person suffering a hip injury. Some indications suggest the use of arthroscopy include:

• Hip labral tears

• Femoroacetabular impingement

• Hip joint degeneration due to pathologies

Even with these hip pathologies, whether you require surgery will depend on your specialist’s decision. People with severe labral tears may not benefit from hip arthroscopy, especially if they have other medical conditions.

Consulting a skilled orthopedic surgeon is the best way to understand the indications of private hip arthroscopy and whether you require it. 

Is Hip Arthroscopy Unnecessary For Labral Tears?

Hip arthroscopy may be appropriate for patients whose symptoms persist despite conservative treatment. This is especially true if the tear is causing symptoms such as:

• Intense hip pain

• Restricted mobility

• Hip joint stiffness

• Clicking of the hip joint

For mild cases, conservative treatment is the main approach to help the tear heal. Your orthopedic consultant may recommend that you rest, modify your daily lifestyle, and participate in physical therapy sessions.

If your symptoms persist after conservative management, the surgical route may be more suitable. This is the stage where hip arthroscopy will become necessary for you. 

Hip arthroscopy surgery may be necessary for people with moderate to severe tears due to possible benefits such as:

• Assistance with hip management (only if the surgery has a favourable outcome)

• Better range of motion

• Lower risk of re-experiencing a labral tear

• Minimally invasive surgical experience

Meeting the external factors of a patient with a good prognosis may suggest a better outcome with hip arthroscopy for labral tear.

Hip Arthroscopy Labral Repair: Why People Believe It’s Unnecessary?

Some people consider hip arthroscopy labral repair unnecessary or the wrong choice. There are mainly two reasons behind this misconception:

1. Long Recovery Period

The long hip arthroscopy recovery timeline is one of the reasons why some people want to avoid it. You may not want to invest months in physical therapy after the surgery. This is why you may believe the procedure to be unnecessary.

Although the labral repair comes with a recovery period of up to six months, it shouldn’t discourage you if your specialist advises that you have good prognostic factors and a favourable outcome chance. The utilization of hip arthroscopy in Canada has increased due to improved outcomes in some patients.

2. The Labrum May Tear Again

With every hip arthroscopy surgery, there is a risk of the labrum tearing again. You may consider the procedure unnecessary by thinking that the labral tear will always open again.

However, that is only half the truth. Your labrum will only tear again if you don’t follow the recovery protocol. For example, returning to high-impact activities too soon may enhance the risk of a torn labrum.

A labrum may also tear again due to experiencing hip trauma again. By following the measures suggested by your private orthopedic surgeon, you may be able to reduce the chances of tearing open your surgical wound. 

Of course, sometimes a labrum may tear again without any reason (idiopathic cause). Consulting a private hip specialist for advice may help you make an informed decision about hip arthroscopic repair.

What To Expect After Hip Arthroscopy Labral Repair?

Select patients may regain mobility (partial or complete) within a few months of hip arthroscopy labral repair, depending on the prognostic factors and risk of complications. If your pain alleviates, you may enjoy a better quality of life.

However, keep in mind that restoration of mobility is not a guaranteed outcome of hip arthroscopy labral repair. The only thing most surgeons can guarantee you is a relatively long hip arthroscopy recovery timeline. Although the procedure is minimally invasive, it doesn’t offer instant or overnight results.

If your condition is expected to improve, then it will take at least half the year to do so. Sometimes hip arthroscopy recovery may be longer if your tear or surgery was complex.

The earlier hip arthroscopy recovery timeline is the expected timeline for a patient with a mild tear who experiences no complications during or after the repair. Of course, very few patients meet such criteria, so the hip arthroscopy timeline varies significantly from one person to another.

FAQs

Is Surgery Necessary For A Hip Labral Tear?

Hip arthroscopy surgery may be necessary for a symptomatic hip labral tear if your orthopedic surgeon advises it. The surgery may also be more suitable if you have failed conservative treatment completely.

How Safe Is Hip Arthroscopy?

The complication rate for hip arthroscopy is about 4.2%, according to a Canadian study. This procedure is relatively safe, but minor complications may occur more often than major complications. Exact patient factors and the severity of the labral tear determine the safety in individuals.

What Happens If You Don’t Fix A Torn Labrum?

If you leave a torn labrum untreated, your pain may worsen, and you may lose total mobility of your hip joint. Some patients also develop other complications such as ligament tears, hip joint instability, osteoarthritis, and more.

Is Hip Labrum Repair Worth It?

Hip labrum repair by arthroscopy may be worth it because it may improve your pain, especially if you have good prognostic factors. Of course, the best way to understand whether a hip labrum repair would benefit you is by consulting a surgeon and asking them to offer you real-time statistics after reviewing your case.

Let Us Walk You Through Hip Arthroscopy Labral Repair At Pathway Surgery

Hip arthroscopy labral repair is one of the options for managing a torn labrum. Pathway Surgery is one of the private clinics in Toronto that offers hip arthroscopy to various patients.

You may book an appointment to understand whether it will be helpful for your case. Our team will walk you through the process and help you explore whether it’s the right option for you.