Posterior Labral Injuries

The shoulder is a ball and socket joint.  The top of the humerus (arm bone) forms the ball, which fits, into the socket of the scapula (shoulder blade). The joint is held together with fibrous tissue that surrounds the socket. This is called the labrum.  Its function is to deepen the socket and provide a type of bumper to help prevent the humeral head from sliding out of its socket. 

Diagnosis:

Posterior labral injuries are thought to occur in contact athletes. The mechanism of injury is the result of a posteriorly directed force on the shoulder. This can occur with blocking in football. The repeated episodes of excessive shear forces directed against the posterior labrum causes the ultimate failure of the labrum. It has also been proposed that repetitive microtrauma eventually leads to posterior labral failure. A detailed physical examination by a Rothman sports medicine physician can evaluate the shoulder and determine if the labrum is involved in the patients complaints. The patient complains of pain with aggressive shoulder activity. During the physical examination, provocative posterior shifting of the humeral head can duplicate the pain. Plain x-rays would demonstrate any boney injury including fractures of the shoulder. The definitive diagnosis is made with an MRI arthrogram scan.  

Treatment

The treatment usually starts with the non operative approach including physical therapy and the avoidance of the provocative activities. Restoring shoulder strength can stabilize the shoulder and reduce the symptoms. Surgical intervention is recommended for those patients that have not improved with the conservative approach. The surgery is usually preformed arthroscopically. A small camera is introduced into the shoulder through quarter inch incisions around the shoulder.  The torn labrum is reattached to the glenoid rim using small anchors and allowed to heal back to the glenoid before sports can resume.  It can take 4 – 6 months  to return to contact sport.

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