Labral Tear Specialist (Anterior Labral Tears, Posterior Labral Tears, SLAP Tears)

Coastal Shoulder Surgery & Sports Medicine

Robert Lewis, MD

Orthopaedic Surgeon located in Tampa Bay, Largo, FL

If your shoulder is frequently dislocating or feeling unstable inside the joint; if you have difficulty with overhead sports like throwing, tennis, volleyball; if you have difficulty working out, such as, with bench press or pushups; a torn labrum or labral tear may be the culprit.

Robert Lewis, MD, at Coastal Shoulder Surgery & Sports Medicine, Tampa Bay, Largo, Florida, is a skilled shoulder fellowship-trained orthopaedic surgeon who practices the most advanced techniques in arthroscopic labral tear repair.

If shoulder problems are keeping you from playing the sports you love or working out, call or click online to schedule an appointment with Dr. Lewis today.

727-475-1166

Labrum Tear

What is a labrum (labral) tear?

Your shoulder is the most movable joint in your body, and the labrum is a key part of what keeps it in place. Imagine your shoulder joint as a golf ball on a tee. The ball is where your upper arm bone (humerus) fits into the shoulder socket, and your shoulder labrum is like the ring around the tee that keeps the ball from falling to the side.

Unlike a golf tee, however, your labrum is made of soft, fibrous tissue and deepens your shoulder socket by up to 50%. This tissue is vulnerable to a host of injuries, including these common labral tears:

SLAP (superior labrum from anterior to posterior) tears
Bankart lesions (anterior labral tears)
Posterior labral tears

What does a labrum (labral) tear feel like?

Symptoms of a labrum tear are similar to other shoulder injuries. It’s common to feel pain only when you move your injured shoulder in certain ways. Signs of a torn labrum include:

Locking, popping, or grinding sensation
Shoulder instability or dislocations
Pain when lifting your arms over your head
Decreased range of motion
Shoulder weakness
Difficulty sleeping on an injured shoulder

How do you tear your shoulder labrum?

You can tear your labrum suddenly, as from an accident, or gradually over time. Common causes of labrum tears include:

Shoulder dislocations
Falling on an outstretched arm
Repetitive overhead motions, such as, throwing, swimming, volleyball, tennis, etc.
Trauma to your shoulder
Lifting a heavy object with a jerking motion

How does Dr. Lewis diagnose and treat labrum (labral) tears?

First, Dr. Lewis performs a physical exam and reviews your symptoms. He may use imaging tests, such as an X-ray, and ask you to move your arms in different directions.

After diagnosing your labrum (labral) tear, Dr. Lewis discusses the best treatment options. Typically, the first line of treatment for a labrum (labral) tear is physical therapy and anti-inflammatory medicine.

If your symptoms don’t improve, he may suggest minimally invasive arthroscopic surgery. Dr. Lewis treats labrum (labral) tears with the following arthroscopic procedures:

Arthroscopic labral repair
Arthroscopic SLAP repair
Arthroscopic Bankart repair
Arthroscopic posterior labral repair and capsulorrhaphy
Arthroscopic subcoracoid decompression

If you’re experiencing signs of a torn labrum and want to get back to your normal activities, call Coastal Shoulder Surgery & Sports Medicine today!! Located in Tampa Bay, Largo, FL.

What we offer