Shoulder Labrum Repair in Louisville, KY
Aptiva Health provides comprehensive shoulder labrum care in Louisville — from the first evaluation through imaging, conservative treatment, surgery, and rehabilitation — anchored by board-certified orthopedic surgeons and a team of orthopedic advanced practice providers. We treat every type of labral tear, including SLAP and Bankart tears, prioritizing conservative care first and offering minimally invasive arthroscopic labral repair when surgery becomes the right answer. With on-site MRI, on-site physical therapy, and an in-house orthopedic and sports medicine team, the entire shoulder care pathway happens under one roof.
Medically reviewed by J. Steve Smith, MD and Shawn Price, MD. Last reviewed: May 2026.
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What Is the Shoulder Labrum?
The shoulder is a ball-and-socket joint, but the socket — the glenoid — is shallow, more like a saucer than a cup. The labrum is a rim of cartilage that lines the edge of that socket and deepens it.
The labrum does several jobs at once. It deepens the socket so the ball of the upper arm bone stays centered, it adds stability to a joint that is built for mobility, and it serves as the anchor point for the biceps tendon and several of the shoulder ligaments.
A labral tear is a tear in this cartilage rim. Because the labrum is involved in both stability and the attachment of the biceps and ligaments, a tear can make the shoulder painful, unstable, or both — depending on where in the labrum the tear occurs.
SLAP tears
A SLAP tear is a tear at the top of the labrum. The name stands for Superior Labrum Anterior to Posterior — meaning a tear of the upper labrum running from front to back. This is the region where the biceps tendon attaches, so SLAP tears and biceps tendon problems are closely linked.
SLAP tears are common in overhead athletes — baseball pitchers, swimmers, tennis and volleyball players — from the repetitive stress of overhead motion. They also occur from a fall onto an outstretched arm, a sudden pull on the arm, or, in older patients, gradual degeneration. Typical symptoms are deep shoulder pain, catching or popping, and, in athletes, a loss of throwing velocity or overhead power.
Bankart tears
A Bankart tear is a tear at the front and lower part of the labrum. It is almost always caused by a shoulder dislocation — when the ball of the shoulder slips forward out of the socket, it tears the labrum on the way out.
The defining problem with a Bankart tear is instability. Once the labrum is torn at the front, the shoulder loses one of its main restraints and becomes prone to dislocating again. Each subsequent dislocation can cause further damage, which is why Bankart tears are taken seriously, especially in younger, active patients.
Other labral tears
The labrum can also tear at the back (a posterior labral tear), and tears can be degenerative — age-related fraying without a single injury. Aptiva Health's shoulder team evaluates and treats the full range of labral injuries.
Symptoms of a Torn Labrum
Labral tear symptoms depend on the tear's location, but commonly include:
Deep shoulder pain — often described as a pain felt inside the joint, frequently worse with overhead activity.
Catching, locking, or popping — a mechanical clicking or grinding as the shoulder moves.
A loose or unstable shoulder — a sense that the shoulder slips, shifts, or could come out of place, most pronounced with a Bankart tear.
Recurrent dislocation or subluxation — the shoulder fully or partially dislocating, the hallmark of instability from a Bankart tear.
Weakness and loss of motion — reduced shoulder strength and a sense the shoulder is not reliable.
Loss of overhead power — for athletes, a drop in throwing velocity or overhead performance, common with SLAP tears.
How a Labral Tear Happens
Labral tears come from a few distinct mechanisms:
Shoulder dislocation — the leading cause of a Bankart tear; the labrum tears as the joint slips out of the socket.
Repetitive overhead motion — the leading cause of SLAP tears in athletes, from the cumulative stress of throwing, swimming, or serving.
A fall onto an outstretched arm — a sudden compressive load that can tear the upper labrum.
A sudden pull or jerk on the arm — for example, catching a heavy falling object.
Degeneration — age-related wear that frays the labrum without a single injury, more common after 40.
Labral tears are also common in work and auto-accident injuries, which Aptiva Health evaluates and treats under workers' compensation and auto injury coverage.
How a Torn Labrum Is Diagnosed
At Aptiva Health, diagnosing a labral tear usually takes a single visit:
History. Your provider asks about your symptoms, any injury or dislocation, your sport or work activity, and whether the shoulder feels unstable.
Physical examination. Labral-specific maneuvers and shoulder instability tests help identify the tear and its location.
Imaging. An X-ray checks the bone. An MRI confirms the tear — and because labral tears can be hard to see on a standard MRI, the scan is sometimes performed as an MR arthrogram, with contrast injected into the joint to outline the labrum clearly. Aptiva Health operates its own MRI imaging centers, so most patients can get same-week MRI scheduling without the multi-week wait that hospital-based imaging typically requires.
Treatment plan. After the exam and imaging, your provider walks you through the diagnosis, the surgical and non-surgical options, and the recovery timeline. You leave with a written plan.
Treatment for a Torn Labrum
The right treatment depends on which type of labral tear is present, whether the shoulder is unstable, the patient's age and activity level, and how the shoulder is functioning.
Non-surgical treatment
Many labral tears — particularly degenerative SLAP tears and tears that are not causing instability — are managed successfully without surgery. Conservative care includes physical therapy to strengthen the rotator cuff and the muscles that stabilize the shoulder, activity modification, anti-inflammatory medication, and targeted injections. Many patients regain a comfortable, functional shoulder without an operation.
Surgical treatment: arthroscopic labral repair
When a labral tear causes recurrent instability, when it affects an athlete who needs a stable, powerful shoulder, or when conservative care has not relieved the symptoms, arthroscopic labral repair is the next step. Working through small incisions with a camera and instruments, the surgeon reattaches the torn labrum to the rim of the shoulder socket using small suture anchors:
SLAP repair — reattaching a torn upper labrum at the biceps anchor.
Bankart repair (shoulder stabilization) — reattaching the torn front-lower labrum and the stabilizing structures to stop recurrent dislocation.
Posterior labral repair — reattaching a tear at the back of the labrum.
Labral repair is typically performed on an outpatient basis.
Learn more about labral tears and shoulder anatomy →
SLAP repair vs. biceps tenodesis
Not every SLAP tear is best treated by repairing the labrum directly. Because the biceps tendon attaches at the top of the labrum, a degenerative SLAP tear in an older or lower-demand patient is sometimes better treated with a biceps tenodesis — re-anchoring the biceps tendon to the upper arm bone — which reliably relieves pain and avoids the stiffness that a direct SLAP repair can sometimes cause. Aptiva's shoulder surgeon chooses between SLAP repair and biceps tenodesis based on the patient's age, activity level, and the condition of the tissue.
Recovery after labral repair
Recovery is a staged process. The arm is protected in a sling for roughly four to six weeks while the repaired labrum begins to heal to the bone. Physical therapy then progresses in stages — first restoring motion, then rebuilding strength and, for athletes, sport-specific function. A return to sport typically takes four to six months. Aptiva Health coordinates post-operative physical therapy in-house, so the surgical team and the therapy team share the same plan — which keeps rehabilitation on track.
Why Patients Choose Aptiva Health for Shoulder Labrum Care in Louisville
One shoulder team, one care pathway.
From the initial evaluation through MRI, conservative care, surgery, and post-operative rehab, the patient stays inside one organization. The surgeon, the orthopedic PA and APRN, the physical therapist, and the imaging center all share the same chart and the same plan.
Conservative care first, surgery when it's right.
Many labral tears can be managed without surgery. Our team starts with the least-invasive treatment likely to work and recommends surgery only when symptoms and imaging both indicate it.
Same-week shoulder evaluations.
Aptiva Health Louisville offers same-day and same-week orthopedic appointments — patients do not wait months for a first visit. Acute shoulder injuries and dislocations can be seen right away through our Immediate Injury Care walk-in clinic.
On-site imaging and therapy across Louisville.
With on-site MRI imaging and in-house orthopedic, sports medicine, and physical therapy services, the scan, the diagnosis, the surgery, and the rehab all happen close to home.
Schedule your appointment today!
When to See a Doctor
You should be evaluated by an orthopedic specialist if you have:
Deep shoulder pain that has not improved after four to six weeks of rest and conservative care
A shoulder that catches, locks, or pops with movement
A shoulder that feels loose, slips, or has dislocated
A shoulder dislocation — especially a first dislocation in a younger, active patient
For athletes, a loss of throwing velocity or overhead power
A shoulder injury from sports, a fall, or a work or auto accident
Get to an emergency room or urgent care immediately if your shoulder is dislocated and will not go back into place, you cannot move the arm after an injury, or you have numbness or loss of circulation in the arm or hand.
For non-emergency shoulder evaluation, Aptiva Health Louisville offers same-day and same-week appointments.
Meet the Louisville Shoulder Treatment Team
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.
Shawn Price, MD — Board-Certified Orthopedic Surgeon Dr. Shawn Price is a board-certified orthopedic surgeon whose clinical focus includes total joint replacement and minimally invasive joint surgery. For shoulder patients, Dr. Price evaluates and treats shoulder arthritis and performs total and reverse shoulder replacement. He completed his Sarcoma Advanced Research and Clinical Fellowship at the University of Utah Huntsman Cancer Institute.
Rebecca Kostyo, APRN — Orthopedic Nurse Practitioner Advanced practice registered nurse who works directly with the Aptiva Health shoulder team to evaluate, diagnose, and manage shoulder conditions, including conservative care, shoulder injections, and pre- and post-operative coordination.
Michael Gilbert, PA-C — Orthopedic Physician Assistant Orthopedic physician assistant for 30 years. For shoulder patients, Michael provides same-week new-patient evaluations, conservative-care coordination, shoulder injections, and post-operative follow-up.
Schedule a Shoulder Labrum Consultation in Louisville — Schedule Now
Louisville locations serving ACL and knee patients:
Louisville East — 10100 Linn Station Road, Suite 1A, Louisville, KY 40223. Tel: 502-535-2018
Louisville Downtown — 300 South 13th Street, Louisville, KY 40203. Tel: 502-583-1011
Louisville Middletown — 401 N English Station Road, Suite 1A, Louisville, KY 40223. Tel: 502-535-2018
Concussion & Sports Medicine Institute — 3611 Newburg Road, Louisville, KY 40218. Tel: 502-535-2018
Louisville Imaging — 3615 Newburg Road, Suite 106, Louisville, KY 40218. Tel: 502-535-2018
Elizabethtown and Mt. Washington locations also serve orthopedic patients:
Aptiva Health Orthopedics – Elizabethtown — 529 Westport Road, Suite 2, Elizabethtown, KY 42701. Tel: 270-751-6706
Aptiva Health Orthopedics – Mt. Washington — 737 N Hwy 31E Bypass, Suite 2, Mt. Washington, KY 40047. Tel: 502-535-2018
Insurance accepted: Most major medical insurance, Medicare, Medicare Advantage, most Kentucky Medicaid plans, workers' compensation, auto injury coverage (PIP and MedPay), and cash-pay.
Frequently Asked Questions About Shoulder Labrum Repair in Louisville
What is the shoulder labrum?
The labrum is a rim of cartilage that lines and deepens the shoulder socket. It helps hold the ball of the upper arm bone centered in the socket, adds stability to the joint, and serves as an attachment point for the biceps tendon and the shoulder ligaments. A labral tear is a tear in this cartilage rim, which can make the shoulder painful, unstable, or both.
What is the difference between a SLAP tear and a Bankart tear?
Both are labral tears, but in different locations. A SLAP tear is a tear at the top of the labrum, where the biceps tendon attaches — the name stands for Superior Labrum Anterior to Posterior. SLAP tears are common in overhead athletes and often cause deep pain and catching. A Bankart tear is a tear at the front and lower part of the labrum, almost always caused by a shoulder dislocation, and it leads to ongoing shoulder instability. The two are repaired differently, which is why an accurate diagnosis matters.
Do labral tears need surgery?
Not always. Some labral tears — particularly degenerative SLAP tears and tears that are not causing instability — are managed successfully without surgery using physical therapy, activity modification, anti-inflammatory medication, and injections. Surgery is more often recommended for labral tears causing recurrent shoulder dislocations, for tears in athletes whose sport demands a stable shoulder, and for tears that have not improved with conservative care. Your Aptiva Health surgeon reviews your exam and MRI to recommend the right path.
Does a Bankart tear need surgery?
A Bankart tear is more likely to need surgery than other labral tears because it causes recurring shoulder instability. Once a shoulder has dislocated and torn the labrum, it is prone to dislocating again, and each dislocation can cause further damage. Surgical Bankart repair restores the labrum and the stabilizing structures, and it is often recommended for younger, active patients after a first or recurrent dislocation. Your surgeon reviews your imaging and activity level to recommend the right approach.
How is shoulder labrum repair performed?
Shoulder labrum repair is most often performed arthroscopically, through small incisions, using a small camera and instruments. The surgeon reattaches the torn labrum to the rim of the shoulder socket using small suture anchors. A SLAP repair addresses a tear at the top of the labrum, and a Bankart repair addresses a tear at the front-lower labrum to restore stability. In some cases — particularly degenerative SLAP tears — a biceps tenodesis is performed instead of or alongside the labral repair. Labrum repair is typically an outpatient procedure.
What is a biceps tenodesis and why is it sometimes done instead of a SLAP repair?
A biceps tenodesis re-anchors the biceps tendon to the upper arm bone. Because the biceps tendon attaches at the top of the labrum, problems there are closely linked to SLAP tears. In older patients and in degenerative SLAP tears, repairing the labrum directly can leave the shoulder stiff or painful, so the surgeon may instead perform a biceps tenodesis, which reliably relieves pain. Your surgeon recommends the approach based on your age, activity level, and the condition of the tissue.
How long is recovery after shoulder labrum repair?
Recovery after labrum repair is a staged process. The arm is protected in a sling for roughly four to six weeks while the repaired labrum begins to heal, followed by a progressive physical therapy program to restore motion and then strength. A return to sport typically takes four to six months. Aptiva Health coordinates post-operative physical therapy in-house, which keeps rehabilitation on schedule.
How is a torn labrum diagnosed?
A torn labrum is diagnosed through a history of the symptoms and any injury or dislocation, a physical examination using labral-specific and instability tests, and imaging. An X-ray checks the bone, and an MRI confirms the tear. Aptiva Health operates its own MRI imaging centers, so most patients can get same-week MRI scheduling.
Who performs shoulder labrum repair at Aptiva Health Louisville?
Shoulder labrum repair at Aptiva Health Louisville is performed by board-certified sports medicine orthopedic surgeon Dr. J. Steve Smith, Director of Orthopedic Surgery & Sports Medicine. Conservative care, shoulder injections, and pre- and post-operative management are provided by orthopedic physician assistant Michael Gilbert, PA-C, and orthopedic nurse practitioner Rebecca Kostyo, APRN, who work directly with the surgical team.
How quickly can I be seen for a shoulder injury in Louisville?
Aptiva Health Louisville offers same-day and same-week orthopedic appointments. New patients with imaging in hand can often be evaluated within the same week of calling. For an acute shoulder injury or dislocation, the Immediate Injury Care walk-in clinic can evaluate the shoulder right away, including on-site X-ray.
Does insurance cover shoulder labrum surgery?
Shoulder labrum repair is covered by most major medical insurance plans, Medicare, Medicare Advantage, and Kentucky Medicaid plans. Labral injuries from a work or auto accident are commonly covered under workers' compensation or auto injury coverage (PIP and MedPay). Aptiva Health verifies benefits before your visit.