Shoulder Labrum Tear

What is Shoulder Labrum?

The shoulder is a ball and socket joint composed of the head of the humerus (arm bone) and glenoid cavity of the scapula (shoulder blade). The labrum is a soft tissue ring around the shoulder joint that helps hold the humerus in the glenoid cavity.

In some cases, the labrum can become torn as the result of repetitive wear and tear of the tissue.  In other instances, a labrum tear is caused by a partial or complete dislocation of the shoulder.  These injuries are especially common in athletes, weightlifters and those whose jobs require repetitive overhead lifting or swinging.

Symptoms of shoulder labrum tears can include:

• Pain when raising the arm overhead
• A dull or aching pain in the shoulder
• Popping or clicking in the shoulder
• A grinding feeling in the shoulder
• Shoulder weakness

The Fellowship Trained and Board Certified Shoulder Specialists at Olympia Orthopaedic Associates are experts in thoroughly evaluating, accurately diagnosing, and effectively treating shoulder labrum tears.