Repeat dislocations, pain, and instability in your shoulder may indicate that you have a labral tear. The highly trained orthopedic surgeons at Garden State Pain & Orthopedics diagnose and treat labral tears at their state-of-the-art facilities in Edison, Clifton, Hazlet, Paramus, and Jersey City, New Jersey. If you think you may have a labral tear, call or book an appointment online today.
The head of your upper arm bone (humerus) sits in a shallow socket in your shoulder blade called the glenoid. Because the head of the humerus is larger than the socket, a ring of strong, fibrous tissue called the labrum surrounds the glenoid to help stabilize your shoulder.
A labral tear happens when part of the labrum becomes injured. The team atGarden State Pain & Orthopedics treats all types of labral tears, including:
A SLAP (superior labrum, anterior to posterior) tear occurs on the top of the labrum and may also involve the biceps tendon. This type of labral tear is especially common among people who use a lot of overhead arm motions, such as baseball players.
A Bankart tear or lesion affects the lower part of the glenoid labrum. This injury is common among younger people who have shoulder dislocations.
Symptoms of a labral tear are similar to many other shoulder injuries, such as a rotator cuff tear. Common labral tear symptoms include:
The only way to be sure that you have a labral tear is to schedule an appointment at Garden State Pain Control.
First, your physician at Garden State Pain & Orthopedics thoroughly reviews your symptoms and medical history. They may move your arm in different positions to check for pain and other symptoms of a labral tear.
They may also take an MRI imaging test or perform shoulder arthroscopy to visually examine the soft tissues of your shoulder. Arthroscopy is a minimally invasive surgical procedure that uses a miniature camera to diagnose problems inside of your joint.
Then, the team at Garden State Pain & Orthopedics develops an individualized treatment plan that may include:
If your labral tear is severe or doesn’t improve with non-surgical treatment, they may recommend arthroscopic shoulder surgery to repair it.
To learn more about your treatment options for a labral tear, call Garden State Pain & Orthopedics or book an appointment online today.