Diagnosing Labral Tears

21 Apr Diagnosing Labral Tears

If your shoulder is not in pain, you probably haven’t given your shoulder’s labrum much thought. The labrum is what keeps the joint stable. If it tears, it can lead to a whirlwind of pain that can diminish your quality of life. At Advanced Orthopedics & Joint Preservation, our orthopedist in Garden City NY can determine if you have a torn labrum and may be able to help you recover from this injury. 

What is a Labral Tear?

The shoulder is a ball and socket joint. The “ball” of the shoulder fits into a socket and allows us to move our arms. The labrum is a thick rim of tissue surrounding the shoulder socket and stabilizes the joint by keeping the ball in the socket. The labrum provides smooth shoulder motion. Though the labrum is quite thick, a hard enough fall or hit can cause it to tear. The primary symptom of a torn labrum is pain, but other symptoms may also include:

• Stiffness.
• Weakness.
• A popping sound when you move your shoulder. 
• Reduced range of motion. 

There are a few types of labrum tears, but the most common are SLAP tears. Both the back and front parts of the labrum are affected by a SLAP tear. Athletes that participate in throwing sports are more likely to get SLAP tears. If you believe you’re dealing with a labral tear, an orthopedist in Garden City NY can help you.

Diagnosing Labral Tears

After your injury, our orthopedist in Garden City NY will evaluate your medical history to better understand your symptoms. We may move your shoulder to check your current range of motion and determine the source of your pain. We may also use imaging tests to locate the tear and display the tear’s size. The two approaches for treating labral tears are conservative and surgical treatment. Before recommending surgery, we will try to see if nonsurgical methods improve your condition. If these methods don’t yield results, surgery may be necessary. The most common technique used for labral tears is arthroscopic surgery. Our team will determine if surgery is right for you and perform it to help get you back to full health. 

Contact Advanced Orthopedics & Joint Preservation

A labral tear can be difficult to manage on your own. At Advanced Orthopedics & Joint Preservation, our orthopedist in Garden City NY is here to help diagnose and treat your injury so you can recover as soon as possible. Contact our office today to schedule an appointment.