Diagnosing a Labrum Tear

Do you have pain in your shoulder joint, and does it feel unstable when you move it? You could have a labrum tear. To be sure, our team of orthopedic surgeons and sports medicine specialists at Crescent City Orthopedics in Metairie, Louisiana, can give you an accurate diagnosis and customize a treatment plan for you.

What is a labrum?

Your labrum is the rubbery tissue that’s attached to the rim of your shoulder socket. It holds the ball of your joint in place. 

Symptoms of a torn labrum

When you injure your labrum, you can experience several symptoms that include:

• Severe pain
• Stiffness
• Inability to lift your arm
• Loss of shoulder strength
• Lack of range of motion

You might also feel like you have a catch in your shoulder that has a grinding sensation.

Diagnosing your torn labrum

When you come in for an appointment with our team, we examine you physically, but we also perform imaging tests that might include an X-ray, CT scan, or an MRI. These tests give us an inside view of the issue in your shoulder.

If we find that you have a torn labrum, you need treatment. If you ignore your condition, it could lead to a partial or complete shoulder dislocation.

Different types of labral tears

Your tear can happen for different reasons, which can affect the type of tear that occurs. The three tears include:

SLAP tears

This type of tear usually occurs when you use an overhead motion repetitively or forcefully, such as throwing a football, which damages the labrum’s top area.

Bankart tears

This type of tear happens when you dislocate your shoulder, which means you tear your labrum and become far more susceptible to dislocations in the future.

Posterior labral tears

This type of tear happens when your rotator cuff and labrum get pinched together in the back part of your shoulder.

No matter what type of tear you experience, our team has the expertise to treat and get you on the road to recovery quickly.

Treatment for your torn labrum

We have a conservative approach to your healing. Treatment options include:

• Physical therapy
• Cortisone shots
• Medications to reduce inflammation
• Modification to the activity that causes your injury

Depending on the severity of your issue, we may recommend minimally invasive surgery to repair your tear. 

If you have pain in your shoulder, come in for an accurate diagnosis at one of our three locations. Contact us today by phone or use the online booking tool. If you have questions or concerns, feel free to send our team a message.