Labral Tear

There are three main types of labrum tears, and they can be easy to confuse. So it’s important to talk with your doctor to understand your specific case.

1. Detachment from the bone
This happens when the labrum is completely torn off the bone, often after a shoulder dislocation or subluxation. In some cases, people don’t even realize their shoulder slipped out of place.

2. Fraying or small internal tears
Over time, the labrum’s edge can become frayed or uneven, especially in people over 40. These tears are common and usually don’t cause pain or symptoms.

3. SLAP tear (Superior Labrum Anterior and Posterior)
This type involves the attachment point of the biceps tendon at the top of the shoulder socket. The injury can range from mild to severe and may cause pain, clicking, or catching when moving the shoulder.

Symptoms include:

  • Shoulder pain and instability
  • Grinding, locking, or catching sensations during movement
  • In baseball players: pain while throwing — especially between cocking and release — that may spread to the front of the shoulder
  • Discomfort often linked to biceps strain or follow-through motion
bankart lesion
Image Source: Cleveland Clinic. Health Diseases, Bankart-lesion Glenoid Labrum Tear

Management

Non-surgical Treatment

Doctors usually begin with non-surgical options such as anti-inflammatory medication, rest, and rehabilitation exercises to strengthen the rotator cuff. If symptoms don’t improve with these measures, arthroscopic surgery may be recommended.

Surgical Treatment

During arthroscopic surgery for SLAP tears, the surgeon evaluates the labrum and the biceps tendon.

  • If only the labrum is damaged, the torn portion is removed or trimmed.

  • If the biceps tendon is involved or detached, it is repaired and reattached with absorbable sutures.

A Bankart lesion is treated with a Bankart repair, which restores shoulder stability by reattaching the labrum and capsule to the front of the glenoid.

 
 
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