Arthroscopic Labral Repair of the Shoulder

Labral repairs involve repairing the labrum back to its native location around the glenoid. Anchors are placed in the bone, and sutures are used to secure the labrum. Early gentle motion is encouraged about two weeks after surgery to avoid stiffness. At about two months post op, the patient can begin to progress their physical therapy to stretching and strengthening exercises. A full recovery can be expected within three to six months after surgery.

Most shoulder pain can be treated with rest, anti-inflammatories, and physical therapy. Any primary doctor or general orthopedist can prescribe these simple solutions, but a trained shoulder specialist won’t just treat your pain — they will diagnose and treat your specific problem.

At Modern Orthopaedics, our trained shoulder specialists will ask the right questions, perform specific examinations, and order imaging when appropriate. They will be able to diagnose your problem and treat you whether your problem is simple or complex. Although you may not feel like your shoulder issue is “bad enough” to see a specialist, it is advantageous to have the opinion of an expert in the field when it comes to your health.

Before deciding on the treatment for your shoulder pain, our doctors will first diagnose your problem. Depending on the type and severity of your problem, the treatment options will vary.

Generally, physical therapy will be involved in the first step of treatment. You will work closely with a therapist two to three times a week to develop a routine that is tailored to your diagnosis and needs. Therapy may take some time to help, which is why a six-week trial is generally recommended before proceeding with other treatment options.

Cortisone injections are often used in orthopedics. Our doctors are conservative when it comes to using cortisone injections and reserve them for specific situations. They are most commonly used for patients who may have a stiff or frozen shoulder or shoulder arthritis. They use them less commonly for rotator cuff issues, but there are exceptions. Each patient’s situation is unique, and our doctors will work with you to ensure the highest level of care.

Surgical intervention is reserved for shoulder issues that do not respond to more conservative measures or acute injuries that need to be addressed right away. The most common shoulder surgeries performed by our doctors are done arthroscopically. This allows for smaller incisions and a quicker recovery for our patients. The length of recovery, immobilization period and rehabilitation protocol differ depending on the surgery.

Generally, we would recommend NSAIDs to help decrease the inflammation that is causing your pain. This could be Motrin, Advil, Naproxen, or other anti-inflammatories. These can also be taken in conjunction with acetaminophen (Tylenol) for acute pain or postoperatively. Although these medicines are over the counter (OTC), they still come with risks and should not be used as a long-term solution to your pain. We would recommend discussing this with your doctor to see what regimen or combination of OTC medicine would be most helpful.