Shoulder Labrum Repair in Elizabethtown, KY
Shoulder Labrum Repair for Elizabethtown Patients
The labrum is the ring of cartilage that deepens the shoulder socket and anchors the ligaments and the biceps tendon. A dislocation, a fall on an outstretched arm, or years of throwing and overhead work can tear it, leaving a shoulder that aches deep inside, clicks, or feels as though it might slip out. At Aptiva Health’s Elizabethtown clinic, 529 Westport Road, Suite 2, labral tears are evaluated with an exam and on-site X-ray, treated with physical therapy when that is enough, and repaired arthroscopically by Dr. J. Steve Smith, a board-certified orthopedic surgeon, when it is not. Every visit except the operation itself takes place in Elizabethtown.
Call 270-506-4888, Monday through Friday, 8 AM to 5 PM, for a same-day appointment at 529 Westport Road, Suite 2, Elizabethtown, KY 42701.
Medically reviewed by J. Steve Smith, MD. Last reviewed: October 2026.
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Types of Labral Tears and Who Needs Surgery
Bankart tears (front-lower labrum) follow a shoulder dislocation. In patients under about 25 who dislocate once, the chance of dislocating again is high, so early repair is often recommended. Older patients and those with a single episode and a stable exam often do well with therapy.
SLAP tears (top of the labrum, where the biceps attaches) come from throwing, overhead work or a fall. Many respond to therapy. Surgery is considered when deep pain and clicking persist after three to six months of rehabilitation; depending on age and tear pattern, the surgeon may repair the labrum or release and re-anchor the biceps tendon instead.
Posterior labral tears (back of the socket) affect linemen, weightlifters and workers who push heavy loads; repair is considered for persistent pain or instability.
Surgery is also recommended for recurrent dislocations regardless of age, and for tears with a loose fragment that catches.
What We Try First, in Elizabethtown
The non-surgical pathway is available at Westport Road:
Physical therapy with Simon Hoehn, PT, DPT and Dovie Brown, PTA, strengthening the rotator cuff and shoulder-blade muscles that keep the ball centered in the socket. Dovie works one on one with patients and has extensive experience with orthopedic injuries and conditions.
Activity modification, especially avoiding overhead and behind-the-back positions during healing
Anti-inflammatory medication and, for selected patients, a corticosteroid injection to settle pain so therapy can progress
A period of sling use after a first dislocation, followed by a structured return
Your First Visit at Westport Road
Where: 529 Westport Road, Suite 2, Elizabethtown, KY 42701.
When: Monday through Friday, 8 AM to 5 PM; same-day appointments at 270-506-4888.
What happens: history, an exam that includes specific instability and labral tests, and on-site X-rays to check for bone loss on the socket or the ball after a dislocation.
Further imaging: MRI, usually with contrast injected into the joint to outline the labrum, is scheduled at Aptiva Health Imaging, 3615 Newburg Road in Louisville, and reviewed with you at your next Elizabethtown visit.
Bring: photo ID, insurance card, medication list, prior imaging, and claim details for work, auto or school-sports injuries.
Surgery Day
Labrum repair is arthroscopic and outpatient, under general anesthesia usually combined with a nerve block for pain control. Through three or four small incisions, the surgeon reattaches the labrum to the rim of the socket with suture anchors and tightens the capsule if the shoulder has been unstable. Biceps tendon work, if needed, is done at the same time. The procedure takes about one to two hours.
Surgery for Elizabethtown patients is performed in the Louisville metro area. The pre-operative visit is in Elizabethtown.
Recovery and Physical Therapy in Hardin County
Weeks 0 to 4: sling at all times except for hygiene and gentle elbow and wrist motion; first follow-up and stitch check at the Elizabethtown office.
Weeks 4 to 8: sling weaned; physical therapy at Westport Road restores motion gradually, protecting the repair.
Weeks 8 to 16: strengthening of the rotator cuff and shoulder blade; desk work is usually possible within one to two weeks of surgery, physical work at three to four months.
Months 4 to 6 and beyond: throwing and overhead sport programs; contact sport typically after six months once strength and stability testing are passed.
Risks and Realistic Expectations
Risks include infection, stiffness, nerve irritation, re-dislocation, anchor pull-out or failure of the repair to heal, and anesthesia complications. Stiffness is the most common problem and is why therapy starts early. Repairs after multiple dislocations with bone loss have higher failure rates and may need a bone-block procedure instead; your surgeon reviews this with you after imaging.
Why Elizabethtown Patients Choose Aptiva Health for Labrum Care
One building for the whole pathway. Exam, X-ray, injections, the pre-operative visit, every follow-up and physical therapy all happen at 529 Westport Road, so you are not driving to Louisville for routine care.
A surgeon who sees you in Elizabethtown. Dr. J. Steve Smith evaluates you here, operates in the Louisville metro area, and follows you here afterward.
Therapy and surgery on one chart. Simon Hoehn, PT, DPT and Dovie Brown, PTA follow Dr. Smith’s protocol directly, so your rehab protects the repair.
Same-day appointments. Call 270-506-4888, Monday through Friday, 8 AM to 5 PM.
When to See a Doctor
You should be evaluated by an orthopedic specialist if you have:
A shoulder that has dislocated or partially slipped out of the socket
Deep shoulder pain with clicking, catching or popping
Pain with throwing, overhead work or reaching behind your back
A feeling that the shoulder is loose or might give way
Shoulder pain that has not improved after several weeks of rest and activity changes
Same-day appointments are available at our Elizabethtown clinic Monday through Friday, 8 AM to 5 PM. Call 270-506-4888.
Your Elizabethtown Shoulder Surgeon
J. Steve Smith, MD — Director of Orthopedic Surgery & Sports Medicine Dr. Steve Smith is the Director of Orthopedic Surgery & Sports Medicine at Aptiva Health and a board-certified orthopedic surgeon. He graduated from the University of Kentucky College of Medicine, trained at the University of Rochester, and completed a sports medicine fellowship at the renowned Kerlan-Jobe Institute in Los Angeles, where he served on the medical staff for the Los Angeles Lakers, the Los Angeles Dodgers, and the Anaheim Ducks. He has performed thousands of orthopedic procedures and treats the full range of shoulder conditions, including labral tears, SLAP and Bankart repair, and shoulder instability. Dr. Smith evaluates and treats shoulder patients at Aptiva Health’s Elizabethtown clinic on Westport Road, performs surgery in the Louisville metro area, and follows patients in Elizabethtown afterward.
Get Evaluated in Elizabethtown
Aptiva Health Orthopedics, Elizabethtown: 529 Westport Road, Suite 2, Elizabethtown, KY 42701. Call 270-506-4888, Monday through Friday, 8 AM to 5 PM, or schedule online. Same-day appointments are available.
Insurance accepted: most major medical insurance, Medicare, Medicare Advantage, most Kentucky Medicaid plans, workers’ compensation and auto injury coverage. We offer self-pay where there is no insurance, it is a non-covered service, and on a case-by-case basis. Call 270-506-4888 and our team will check your plan.
Frequently Asked Questions About Labrum Repair in Elizabethtown
Do I have to go to Louisville for labrum surgery?
Your evaluation, X-rays, pre-operative visit, follow-ups and physical therapy are all at our Elizabethtown clinic on Westport Road. The arthroscopy itself is performed in the Louisville metro area as an outpatient procedure, and you return to Elizabethtown for all follow-up care.
I dislocated my shoulder once. Do I need surgery?
Not always. Younger, active patients have a high chance of dislocating again and are often offered early repair. Older patients and those with a stable exam after therapy frequently do well without surgery. The decision is made with you after exam and imaging.
How long until I can drive and work?
Most patients drive once out of the sling at four to six weeks. Desk work resumes within one to two weeks; jobs requiring lifting or overhead work wait three to four months.
Can I do physical therapy in Elizabethtown?
Yes. Simon Hoehn, PT, DPT and Dovie Brown, PTA provide the full post-operative program at the Westport Road clinic, one on one, following Dr. Smith’s protocol.
How soon can I be seen?
Same-day appointments are available Monday through Friday, 8 AM to 5 PM. Call 270-506-4888.