Restore stability and movement when a torn hip labrum causes pain, clicking, catching, or stiffness. Dr. Stephanie Buza, our board-certified orthopedic surgeon with fellowship training in hip preservation, provides specialized repair focused on preserving your natural hip and activity.
Restore Your Hip’s Natural Seal
Hip labrum repair is a joint-preserving procedure used to treat tears in the ring of cartilage surrounding your hip socket. Typically performed arthroscopically through small incisions, the procedure reattaches the torn labrum to the rim of the socket using sutures and anchors. Restoring this tissue helps reestablish the labrum’s seal, supporting hip stability and function while addressing symptoms such as pain, clicking, catching, and limited movement.
Hip Labrum Repair Treats:
- Hip labral tears
- Pain caused by a torn or damaged labrum
- Clicking, catching, or locking related to labral damage
- Hip instability associated with a labral tear
- Limited or painful hip movement
- Labral injuries related to sports or repetitive activity
- Labral damage associated with hip impingement
- Symptoms that interfere with running, dancing, training, or everyday movement
Your Hip Labrum Repair Procedure
Hip labrum repair is typically performed arthroscopically through several small incisions called portals. Dr. Buza inserts an arthroscope (a thin camera) to view the labrum, cartilage, and other structures inside your hip. Small surgical instruments are introduced through additional portals, allowing her to locate the tear and prepare the rim of the hip socket for repair.
Dr. Buza then places small suture anchors into the acetabular rim, the edge of your hip socket. Sutures attached to these anchors are passed around or through the torn labrum and secured, bringing the tissue back against the bone so it can heal. If hip impingement is contributing to the tear, the bony abnormality may also be addressed. The instruments are removed, and the small incisions are closed.
Benefits of Hip Labrum Repair:
- Preservation of your natural labral tissue when repair is possible
- Improved labral seal around the hip joint
- Greater support for hip stability and joint mechanics
- Relief from pain, clicking, catching, and other mechanical symptoms
- Small arthroscopic incisions rather than a large open incision
- Minimal disruption to surrounding muscles and soft tissues
- Opportunity to address associated hip impingement during the same procedure
- A structured path back to running, dance, sports, and everyday activities
Return to Activity After Hip Labrum Repair
Recovery begins with protecting the repaired labrum while it heals back to the hip socket. You’ll typically use crutches with restricted weight-bearing for about 2 to 4 weeks, while physical therapy starts early with controlled range-of-motion exercises. For roughly the first 6 weeks, you’ll avoid running, jumping, deep squats, pivoting, and forceful hip rotation or flexion.
As healing progresses, therapy shifts toward strengthening your hip and core, improving balance, and rebuilding movement. Low-impact conditioning usually comes first, followed by demanding exercises. Running may begin in about 3 months if you meet recovery milestones, with sport- or dance-specific training added gradually. A return to unrestricted activity commonly takes around 4 to 6 months, depending on your healing and Dr. Buza’s guidance.
Does Every Hip Labral Tear Require Surgery?
No. Your treatment depends on your symptoms, the characteristics of the tear, underlying hip anatomy, and how much the problem affects you. Non-operative care may be appropriate first. Dr. Buza considers your individual diagnosis and goals before recommending surgery, so having a labral tear does not automatically mean you need an operation.
Don’t Let an Injury Keep You Sidelined.
Schedule Your Consultation for Hip Labrum Repair in NYC
Dr. Stephanie Buza is a board-certified orthopedic surgeon with dedicated fellowship training in hip preservation at Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS). She provides joint-preserving care for athletes, dancers, performers, and active people, with treatment centered on your hip, your movement, and your goals for getting active again. Schedule your consultation for hip labrum repair in New York City today.
