The shoulder joint has a very shallow socket (the glenoid). To compensate for the shallow socket, there is a ring of flexible cartilage around the socket called the labrum that helps create a deeper cup for the ball of the humerus.
The shoulder labrum can become torn during a shoulder dislocation, and this labral tear is called a Bankart Lesion. Symptoms of a Bankart Lesion are persistent feelings of shoulder instability, pain in the front of the shoulder, or a general feeling of apprehension that the patient “cannot trust his/her shoulder”.
In addition, one of the biceps tendons attaches to the top of the labrum in the shoulder. A forceful biceps contraction from a fall or from repetitive overhead activities can cause a traction injury at the top of the labrum. This type of labral tear is called a SLAP Lesion. Symptoms of a SLAP tear include pain or catching in the front of the shoulder made worse with bending of the elbow and rotation of the wrist.
While physical therapy and injection treatments can help symptoms of a Bankart or SLAP Lesion, surgical repair is often necessary. There are multiple factors that go into the decision for surgical repair; however, most of the repair techniques can be done arthroscopically with patients going home the same day of surgery.
To schedule an appointment with Dr. Hurst, please contact us at (614) 221-6331