Shoulder Labral Tears

NYU Langone doctors are experts at diagnosing and providing comprehensive treatments for shoulder labral tears. The labrum is a ring of cartilage that lines the edge of the shoulder socket.

This rubbery tissue provides cushioning to the ball, the top of upper arm bone, as it rotates in the socket. The labrum also helps to widen and deepen the socket and provides stability to the shoulder joint. A tear can occur at several different locations along the labrum and can cause pain and problems with lifting your arm overhead—and potentially cause your shoulder to dislocate.

The type of labral tear, its severity, and your activity level help determine treatment. Our specialists offer a variety of nonsurgical options to help you heal from this injury, although surgery may ultimately be the best option for severe injury or for people who are active or play sports. Our fellowship-trained sports and shoulder orthopedic surgeons at NYU Langone Orthopedic Center and our Sports Medicine Center and Sports Health locations are highly skilled in labral tear surgery and offer the latest in minimally invasive approaches to care. They partner with rehabilitation specialists at NYU Langone Orthopedic Center to create a personalized physical and occupational therapy program to help you with recovery.