Labral Tear

The shoulder joint consists of the humerus (our arm bone) and the glenoid fossa (the shoulder socket). The labrum is a band of cartilage that surrounds the glenoid fossa and helps with shoulder stability by maintaining the humerus in the socket. Labral tears can occur as a result of traumatic incidents or shoulder dislocations. Those with labral tears often report high levels of shoulder pain, feelings of instability, feelings of catching, locking, or "clunking", and inability to move the arm through the full range of motion. There are two types of labral tears; SLAP tears and Bankart Lesions. SLAP stands for Superior Labrum Anterior to Posterior. This tear occurs at the top of the labrum near where the biceps tendon inserts. It is common that the bicep tendon may also be involved with an injury to this region. This type of tear is more common in overhead athletes and patients typically report pain towards the front of the shoulder. Bankart lesions occur towards the bottom of the labrum as a result of shoulder dislocation. When the shoulder dislocates the fibrous capsule that surrounds the joint can aggressively pull on the lower portion of the labrum and tear it. Patients with Bankart lesions typically report feeling of instability and uneasiness when moving the arm. Some labral tears can be managed without surgery and be treated with physical therapy by reducing pain levels, improving range of motion, and improving the strength in the rotator cuff muscles to prevent future dislocation. Sometimes labral tears do not respond to physical therapy however and surgery is required. In the case of a SLAP tear and Bankart lesions the surgeon will arthroscopically enter the shoulder and reattach the labrum to the bone. We then follow a specific protocol in physical therapy to restore range of motion and strength to their prior levels. For examples of how we treat labral tears please see the photos below. If you would like to schedule an appointment please reach out to us.