What Is the Shoulder Joint and Labrum — and Why Are They Important?

Your shoulder is a ball-and-socket joint that lets you move your arm in all directions. The labrum is a soft piece of cartilage around the socket that helps keep the ball (top of your arm bone) in place.

When the labrum is torn — often from a shoulder dislocation — your shoulder can feel loose or unstable. This type of tear is called a Bankart tear, and it can lead to repeated dislocations, pain, and trouble using your shoulder.

How Is the Surgery Done?

Bankart repair surgery fixes the torn labrum and helps keep your shoulder stable again. It is usually done with minimally invasive surgery called arthroscopy:

• The surgeon makes a few small cuts and uses a tiny camera to see inside the shoulder.

• Special tools are used to reattach the torn labrum to the bone using sutures (stitches) and anchors.

• Sometimes, the joint capsule (soft tissue around the joint) is tightened to make the shoulder more secure.

You usually go home the same day, and recovery includes physical therapy to get your strength and motion back.