Services | Orthopedics and Pain Medicine Physician located in Edison, Clifton, Hazlet, Jersey City and West Orange, NJ | Garden State Pain & Orthopedics

What is a labral tear?

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:

SLAP tears

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.

Bankart tears or lesions

A Bankart tear or lesion affects the lower part of the glenoid labrum. This injury is common among younger people who have shoulder dislocations.

How can I tell if I have a labral tear?

Symptoms of a labral tear are similar to many other shoulder injuries, such as a rotator cuff tear. Common labral tear symptoms include:

• Shoulder instability
• Shoulder dislocations
• Shoulder pain and weakness
• A popping or catching sensation
• Decreased range of motion

The only way to be sure that you have a labral tear is to schedule an appointment at Garden State Pain Control.

How is a labral tear diagnosed and treated?

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:

• Physical therapy
• Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medicine
• Regenerative medicine such as PRP therapy

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.

More About Garden State Pain and Orthopedics

Garden State Pain and Orthopedics is a group of Orthopedic and Pain Management Physicians located in Clifton, Edison, Hazlet, West Orange, and Jersey City who have provided the highest quality healthcare since 1994. Garden State Pain & Orthopedics is on the cutting edge of technology in pain medicine with expertise across diverse pain conditions and treatment modalities, including interventional pain techniques, minimally-invasive surgeries, medical management, physical therapy, rehabilitation, and behavioral therapy. You can schedule an appointment with their pain doctors by selecting the “Book Now” button. 

Locations:

Clifton

Address: 1117 Route 46 East, Suite 301, Clifton, NJ 07013

Phone: 973-777-5444

Edison

Address: 25 South Main Street, Suite 12, Edison, NJ 08837

Phone: 732-376-0330

Jersey City

Address: 631 Grand Street, Suite 2-100, Jersey City, NJ 07304

Phone: 973-777-5444

West Orange

Address: 443 Northfield Ave West Orange, NJ 07052

Phone: 732-376-0330

Hazlet

Address: 226 Middle Road, Suite 4, Hazlet, NJ 07730 

Phone: 732-376-0330