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Halcy Orthopedics

Shoulder Labral Tear Treatment in New York

Also known as: Glenoid Labrum Tear, SLAP Tear, Bankart Lesion, Shoulder Labrum Injury, Glenoid Labral Tear, Torn Shoulder Labrum

4 min read
Reviewed by Dr. Maya Chen, MD, FAAOS

A shoulder labral tear is an injury to the ring of fibrocartilage (the labrum) that lines the rim of the shoulder socket (glenoid). The labrum deepens the otherwise shallow socket, helps stabilize the shoulder, and anchors the long head of the biceps tendon. Common patterns include SLAP tears (superior labrum, anterior to posterior) often seen in overhead athletes and Bankart lesions associated with anterior shoulder dislocations. Symptoms include deep shoulder pain, popping or catching sensations, and a sense of shoulder instability.

At a Glance

  • The glenoid labrum is a ring of fibrocartilage around the shoulder socket that deepens the socket and helps stabilize the joint[1]
  • SLAP tears (superior labrum, anterior to posterior) often occur in throwing athletes from repetitive overhead motion, while Bankart lesions are commonly associated with anterior shoulder dislocations[2]
  • Arthroscopic surgery can repair a torn labrum or stabilize the shoulder after recurrent dislocation, often with favorable outcomes in well-selected patients[3]

Affected Anatomy

  • Glenoid labrum (fibrocartilaginous ring around the shoulder socket)
  • Glenoid (shoulder socket on the scapula)
  • Long head of the biceps tendon attachment
  • Glenohumeral ligaments
  • Humeral head
  • Surrounding rotator cuff

What are the symptoms of Shoulder Labral Tear?

  • Deep shoulder pain, often worse with overhead activity or lifting
  • A sensation of popping, clicking, catching, or grinding in the shoulder
  • Pain at the front, back, or top of the shoulder, depending on tear location
  • A feeling of shoulder instability or that the shoulder may slip out of place
  • Decreased shoulder strength, particularly in overhead motions
  • Pain with throwing or specific overhead movements
  • Recurrent shoulder dislocation or subluxation in association with Bankart lesions

When should you seek care for Shoulder Labral Tear?

  • Shoulder pain persisting more than 4 to 6 weeks despite rest and activity modification
  • Recurrent shoulder dislocation or subluxation
  • Mechanical symptoms such as catching, locking, or giving way
  • Pain that interferes with sleep, work, or sports
  • Sudden severe pain or shoulder dislocation following trauma

If any of these apply, consider reaching out to schedule a visit.

What causes Shoulder Labral Tear?

Causes

  • Acute trauma, including falls onto an outstretched arm or shoulder dislocation
  • Repetitive overhead motion, common in throwing athletes, swimmers, and racket sports
  • Forceful pulling on the arm, such as catching a heavy object
  • Sudden axial loading or shoulder impaction
  • Degenerative wear of the labrum with age
  • Shoulder dislocation, which often produces a Bankart lesion of the anterior labrum

Risk Factors

  • Participation in overhead sports such as baseball, softball, tennis, and volleyball
  • History of shoulder dislocation or instability
  • Manual labor or occupations involving repetitive overhead lifting
  • Age 40 or older (degenerative labral tears more common)
  • Generalized joint hypermobility
  • Prior shoulder surgery or injury

How It's Diagnosed

  • 1History and physical examination, including provocative tests for labral pathology
  • 2Plain X-rays to evaluate bony anatomy and rule out fracture
  • 3MRI or MR arthrogram (with intra-articular contrast) to visualize the labrum
  • 4CT scan in selected cases for detailed bony assessment in recurrent instability
  • 5Diagnostic shoulder arthroscopy in some cases, which is also therapeutic

How is Shoulder Labral Tear treated?

At Halcy Orthopedics, we offer several approaches for shoulder labral tear:

Shoulder Arthroscopy

Shoulder arthroscopy is a minimally invasive surgical procedure in which a small camera, called an arthroscope, is inserted into the shoulder joint th...

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Cortisone Injection

A cortisone injection is a procedure that delivers a corticosteroid medication, often combined with a local anesthetic, directly into a painful or inf...

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Physical Therapy

Physical therapy is a healthcare discipline that uses guided movement, manual techniques, and targeted exercise to restore function and reduce pain af...

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Prognosis and Recovery

  • Many partial or degenerative tears improve with structured non-operative care
  • Arthroscopic labral repair achieves good outcomes in well-selected patients, with high rates of return to sport
  • Recurrent dislocation rates after arthroscopic Bankart repair are reported between approximately 5 and 15 percent at long-term follow-up
  • Outcomes are best when surgery is performed before significant secondary cartilage damage develops
  • Some patients with SLAP tears, particularly older patients, do better with biceps tenodesis than with formal labral repair

Frequently Asked Questions

A shoulder labral tear is an injury to the ring of fibrocartilage that lines the rim of the shoulder socket. The labrum deepens the socket and helps stabilize the shoulder. Common tear patterns include SLAP tears, often seen in overhead athletes, and Bankart lesions associated with anterior shoulder dislocations.
Common symptoms include deep shoulder pain, popping or catching sensations, pain with overhead motion, decreased strength, and a feeling of instability or that the shoulder may slip out of place. Patients with Bankart lesions often experience recurrent dislocation or subluxation.
Causes include acute trauma such as falls onto an outstretched arm, shoulder dislocations, forceful pulling on the arm, and repetitive overhead motion in throwing or racket sports. Degenerative changes can also produce labral tears in older adults.
Consider seeing a clinician for shoulder pain persisting more than 4 to 6 weeks despite rest, recurrent dislocation, mechanical symptoms such as catching or locking, or pain that interferes with sleep, work, or sports. A sudden dislocation warrants prompt evaluation.
Treatment often begins with structured physical therapy emphasizing rotator cuff and scapular strengthening, anti-inflammatory medications, and activity modification. Arthroscopic labral repair or shoulder stabilization can be effective for persistent symptoms or recurrent instability; biceps tenodesis is an alternative for selected SLAP tears, particularly in older patients.
Some partial or degenerative tears become much less symptomatic with structured conservative care, even though the labrum itself does not fully reattach. Many patients live well with a labral tear by managing activity, strengthening surrounding muscles, and avoiding provocative positions.

Your Practitioner

Dr. Maya Chen, MD, FAAOS

Fellowship-trained orthopedic surgeon specializing in cartilage preservation and minimally-invasive joint procedures. Dr. Chen treats high-performance athletes and weekend warriors alike, with a focus on returning patients to the activities they love.

Dr. Marcus Rivera, MD

Fellowship-trained orthopedic spine surgeon focused on conservative-first care for sciatica and herniated discs. Dr. Rivera has performed more than 1,500 lumbar microdiscectomies and lectures internationally on minimally invasive spine surgery.

Dr. Priya Nair, MD

Non-operative sports medicine physician focused on regenerative orthopedic care. Dr. Nair leads the practice's PRP and ultrasound-guided injection programs, and serves as team physician for two NYC-area collegiate athletic departments.

Medically reviewed by Dr. Maya Chen, MD, FAAOS · Last reviewed: 2026-05-11