Labral Tears (Shoulder Joint)

A labral tear of the shoulder is a common sports-related injury that often requires treatment to restore normal shoulder function and strength. Coast Spine and Sports Medicine offers tailored labral tear treatment for men and women in Orange County, Los Angeles County and Inland Empire.

What Is a Labral Tear?

Labral Tears (Shoulder Joint)The labrum of the shoulder joint is fibrocartilage that’s attached to the shoulder socket. This cup-shaped rim of rubbery cartilage reinforces your ball and socket shoulder joint and keeps the ball of the joint in the correct position. A tear of the labrum is a common sports injury but it can also happen with age. Because the labrum is an important component in the shoulder joint’s stability, a labral tear can cause shoulder dislocation.

There are two primary types of shoulder labral tears:

  • A Superior Labrum from Anterior to Posterior (SLAP) tear. This tear occurs where the biceps tendon connects to the shoulder at the front of the arm. It’s very common among athletes such as volleyball players, basketball pitchers, and golfers.
  • A Bankart tear. This type of tear usually happens in younger people and it happens when the head of the humerus bone shifts toward the front or back of the body.

Labral tears are typically sports-related injuries but they can also occur due to a traumatic injury such as a fall or a degenerative condition affecting the shoulder joint like osteoarthritis.

How Much Does it Cost to Treat a Shoulder Labral Tear in Orange County, CA?

The cost of shoulder labral tear treatment in Los Angeles County depends on many favors including the severity of the injury. During your first appointment at Coast Spine and Sports Medicine, we will create a tailored treatment plan and review the cost of your care with you. We accept many forms of health insurance as well as financing through CareCredit®.

What Are the Symptoms of a Labral Tear of the Shoulder?

Shoulder labral tears can be difficult to prevent in sports and may come with the following symptoms:

  • Aching pain that gets worse at night
  • Pain when performing overhead activities
  • Popping, grinding, or sticking in the socket
  • Decreased range of motion
  • Reduced shoulder strength

How Is a Labral Tear Treated in Orange County?

At Coast Spine and Sports Medicine, we will develop a tailored treatment plan depending on the severity of your injury. We begin with the most conservative treatment options possible beginning with anti-inflammatory medication, rest, and physical therapy. For some people, steroid injections can be helpful to relieve pain and inflammation. A dislocation with a minor Bankart tear may be treated with reduction, or manually moving the shoulder back into place in the joint.

What Is Labral Tear Shoulder Surgery?

When physical therapy is not enough, the shoulder continues to dislocate from the joint, or the tear is more severe, labral tear shoulder surgery may be necessary to reattach torn ligaments and the labrum to the bone of the shoulder joint. This procedure is typically arthroscopic and performed by an orthopedic surgeon through a tiny incision to reattach the labrum to the glenoid. Sometimes this procedure requires repairing the tear and reattaching the biceps tendon with sutures or absorbable wire. Tightening stretched ligaments may also be necessary to restore stability of the joint.

You can expect to wear a sling for a few weeks after surgery and perform exercises to strengthen the muscles. Most people can regain about 80 percent of their original shoulder strength with treatment.

If you have suffered a shoulder labral tear, call us today to schedule your appointment at Coast Spine and Sports Medicine. We welcome patients in Orange County and Los Angeles County, including the communities of Downey, Santa Ana, and Long Beach, CA.