What Is the Recovery Time for Hip Labrum Surgery?

Hip labrum surgery is a common procedure done to repair the damaged cartilage surrounding the hip joint. Following physical therapy, patients are commonly symptom free about 2 to 6 months after the procedure.

Anatomy

The hip is a ball and socket joint made up of the femur (thigh bone) and pelvis (hip bone). The head, or ball, of the femur fits into the socket of the pelvis. The labrum is a piece of cartilage surrounding the socket which helps keep the femur in place and provide stability.

Diagnosis

Symptoms of a torn labrum can include pain in the hip or groin, stiffness and limited range of motion in the joint, and a locking or clicking in the joint. It is difficult to diagnosis a labrum tear because of all the other muscles near and around the hip.

Causes

A torn labrum can be caused by several factors. These can include trauma, natural structural abnormalities, repetitive motions (usually sport or physical activity related), and osteoarthritis.

Surgicial Procedure

The procedure of repairing a torn labrum varies depending on the extent of the damage. Doctors will either remove the torn part of the labrum or simply sew the labrum back together.

Recovery Time

The patient will remain on crutches for 2 to 6 weeks. During this time, physical therapy will be used to regain strength and range of motion in the joint. Usually patients are pain free anywhere from 2 to 6 months.