The hip labrum, a firm ring of flexible cartilage surrounding the hip joint, acts as a support system to the joint by providing stability, maintaining alignment between the ball and socket of the hips, and allowing for a substantive range of motion.

In many cases, a tear to the labrum can result from a traumatic incident, such as a motor vehicle accident or a severe fall. A labral tear can also be the result of hip overuse. Oftentimes, this repetitive use is associated with involvement in high-impact sports.

The main symptoms associated with this injury include pain in the groin and hip, hip locking, and stiffness or constrained range of motion in the hip joint.