Shoulder Labral Tear, A Simple Guide To The Condition, Diagnosis, Treatment And Related Conditions

This book describes Shoulder Labral Tear, Diagnosis and Treatment and Related Diseases

Shoulder labral tear is a very painful injury to the shoulder

Shoulder labral tear is the damage to the labrum of the shoulder, which is the ring of cartilage that encircles the socket of the shoulder joint.

Shoulder labrum tear is also termed superior labral anterior to posterior (SLAP) lesions that comprise a recognized medical subset of complicated shoulder pain disorders.

Shoulder labral tear tends to happen in young laborers, overhead athletes, and middle-aged manual laborers

The shoulder is a ball-and-socket joint made up of 3 bones: the humerus (upper arm bone), the scapula (shoulder blade), and the clavicle (collarbone).

The head of the humerus sits inside a rounded socket in the shoulder blade.

This socket is termed the glenoid.

Encasing the outside edge of the glenoid is a rim of strong, fibrocartilage tissue termed the labrum.

The labrum acts to deepen the socket and stabilize the shoulder joint.

It also functions as an attachment point for many of the ligaments of the shoulder, and stabilizes the long head of biceps tendon increasing glenohumeral joint stability

The shoulder labrum is the rim of soft cartilage in the socket-shaped joint in the shoulder bone.

It holds the ball-shaped joint at the top of the upper arm bone, attaching the two bones.

A group of 4 muscles termed the rotator cuff helps the labrum hold the ball in the socket.

This permits the upper arm to rotate.

Repetitive movement and injuries can rupture the labral lining, often causing pain.

The patient also has a labrum where the upper leg joins to the hip, but it is less likely to tear since it is thicker than the shoulder labrum.

Types of shoulder labrum tears

The cup shaped, socket-like opening of the shoulder where the labrum is sited is termed the glenoid.

Shoulder labral tears can take place anywhere around the glenoid socket.

There are 3 main types of labral tears:

1. SLAP tear or lesion:

When the tear is above the middle of the glenoid, it is termed a SLAP tear or SLAP lesion.

SLAP indicates "superior labrum, anterior to posterior," meaning front to back.

This type of labral tear happens often among tennis players, baseball players, and anyone who makes use of a lot of overhead arm motions.

They also often happen together with damage to the biceps tendon.

2. Bankart tear or lesion:

When the injury is on the lower half of the glenoid socket, it is termed a Bankart lesion or tear.

Bankart tears are more frequent in younger people with dislocated shoulders.

3. Posterior labral tear:

Injuries to the back of the shoulder joint can produce a posterior labral tear.

These are infrequent and make up only 5 to 10 % of all shoulder injuries.

The traumatic injury and wear and tear from repetitive movement of the upper arm can both produce labral tears.

Some specific causes of traumatic labral tears are:

1. Fall on an outstretched arm
2. Direct hit to the shoulder
3. Violent blow while reaching overhead
4. Sudden tug on the arm
5. Sudden pull, such as when trying to lift a heavy object
6. Violent overhead reach, such as when trying to stop a fall or slide

Throwing athletes or weightlifters can develop glenoid labral tears as a result of repetitive shoulder movement.

To see the injury to the labrum, the doctor may need to order a CT scan or MRI scan with injection of dye.

Eventually, the diagnosis will be made with arthroscopic surgery.

Labral tears are often treated with rest, painkiller medicines, and physical therapy.

Surgical treatment is needed if non-surgical treatment fails.
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