Shoulder Labral Tears Treatment
The main shoulder joint is a ball and socket joint that includes the glenoid (shoulder socket in the scapula) and the humeral head (ball of the upper arm bone). Cartilage covers the inside of the socket, with a ridge of tougher cartilage along the rim called the labrum. Shoulder labral tears can occur that impact the function and stability of the shoulder. Our orthopedic specialists at DOCS Health offer shoulder labral tears treatment at our medical center in Los Angeles.
Causes and Symptoms of Torn Shoulder Labrum
The labrum is cartilage that lines the rim of the glenoid (the socket of the shoulder joint). It acts to stabilize the ball (humeral head) of the shoulder within the joint. A common injury among throwing athletes, a torn labrum can be a source of significant pain and discomfort for patients. Other common causes of shoulder labral tears include:
- Falling on an outstretched arm
- Repetitive shoulder motions
- Direct impact to the shoulder
- Heavy lifting overhead
- Sudden pulling on the arm/shoulder
Symptoms of a shoulder labral tear include frequent dislocations, pain reaching overhead and pain when sleeping. There may be a catching or grinding sensation with shoulder movement, and there is often a loss of strength and range of motion.
Arthroscopic Labral Repair
Often, mild or moderate shoulder labral tears can be treated with non-surgical methods, such as physical therapy and OTC pain medications. When these are not effective, surgery may be required. Shoulder arthroscopy with a labral repair is the term used to describe surgery done for patients with a torn labrum or SLAP tear. This is a minimally-invasive surgery that uses small incisions to repair the torn labrum to restore mobility and reduce pain.
If you suffer from a torn shoulder labrum, contact our team at DOCS Health. We offer advanced options in shoulder labral tear treatment at our Los Angeles orthopedic clinic.
Doctors who treat this condition
Unless otherwise indicated, the physician is a member of DOCS Health Medical Group and has medical staff privileges at DOCS Surgery Center, DOCS Surgical Hospital, or both. Physicians denoted with an asterisk (*) are independent physicians who are not part of DOCS Health Medical Group, but do have medical staff privileges at DOCS Surgery Center, DOCS Surgical Hospital, or both.