Labral Tear
What Is a Labral Tear?
The labrum is a ring of tough, rubbery cartilage that lines the rim of the shoulder socket (glenoid), deepening the socket and helping the ball of the humerus stay centered within it. It also serves as the attachment point for several important shoulder ligaments and the biceps tendon. A labral tear occurs when this cartilage ring is torn, either through a traumatic event or from repetitive stress over time.
What Causes a Labral Tear?
- A shoulder dislocation, which frequently tears the labrum at the front of the socket (a specific pattern known as a Bankart lesion)
- A fall onto an outstretched arm
- Repetitive overhead motion, particularly throwing athletes, which can cause a tear at the top of the socket where the biceps tendon attaches (a SLAP tear)
- Direct trauma to the shoulder
- Gradual wear over time, especially in combination with other age-related shoulder changes
What Are the Symptoms of a Labral Tear?
- A deep, sometimes hard-to-pinpoint ache in the shoulder
- Catching, locking, or grinding sensations with certain shoulder movements
- A sense of instability, especially if the tear occurred alongside a dislocation
- Pain with overhead activity, particularly in throwing athletes
- Occasional popping sensations with specific arm positions
Why Can Labral Tears Be Hard to Diagnose?
Labral tears often produce symptoms that overlap significantly with other shoulder conditions, such as rotator cuff irritation or biceps tendonitis, and the location and pattern of the tear (front, back, top, or a combination) can each cause slightly different symptoms. A thorough physical exam, combined with an MRI — sometimes with contrast dye injected into the joint (an MR arthrogram) to better outline the labrum — is often needed to confirm the diagnosis and clarify exactly which portion of the labrum is affected.
Coast your way to recovery
Dr. Palsis utilizes innovative treatment techniques to get you back in motion and back to the life you love.
Treatment Options for a Labral Tear
Nonsurgical treatment may be appropriate for smaller, stable tears without significant instability, particularly in less physically demanding patients:
- Physical therapy focused on strengthening the muscles that support the shoulder
- Activity modification
- Anti-inflammatory medication for symptom relief
Surgery is often recommended for tears associated with shoulder instability, tears causing persistent mechanical symptoms, or tears in athletes who need full shoulder function to return to their sport. Depending on the tear’s location and pattern, this may involve an arthroscopic Bankart repair (for tears at the front of the socket associated with instability) or a SLAP repair (for tears at the top of the socket near the biceps attachment).
Get back to what moves you
Dr. Palsis specializes in the treatment of knee, shoulder, and sports injuries.