The information contained within these pages is the property of the Medical Multimedia Group and we retain all rights regarding its content. Alteration of these documents in any way is a violation of the copyright. Since orthopedic surgeons began using a tiny TV camera called an arthroscope to diagnose and treat shoulder problems, they have discovered several conditions that no one knew existed. A labral tear can cause pain and a catching sensation in the shoulder.
Labral tears can be very difficult to diagnose.
A part of the scapula, called the glenoid, makes up the socket of the shoulder. The glenoid is very shallow and flat. The labrum is a rim of soft tissue that makes the socket more like a cup. The labrum turns the flat surface of the glenoid into a deeper socket that molds to fit the head of the humerus. The rotator cuff connects the humerus to the scapula.