Shoulder Instability (Labral) Surgery

As a fellowship trained sports medicine surgeon, Dr. Andrew Pearle has a special interest in treating both athletic and degenerative shoulder conditions. Dr. Pearle has been a team physician for the New York Mets organization for over a decade. Assisting in the care for hundreds of elite throwing athletes from both the major and minor league systems gives Dr. Pearle a unique perspective and expertise on shoulder injuries. Dr. Pearle performs all his surgeries at the Hospital for Special Surgery, the #1 ranked orthopedic center in the country.

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The term "shoulder instability" constitutes a spectrum of disorders that includes dislocation, subluxation, and laxity. The shoulder has the greatest range of motion of any of the joints in the human body. It is also the most commonly dislocated joint in the body. The shoulder is comprised of the humeral head (ball) and the glenoid (socket). The shoulder, as opposed to the hip, has a very shallow socket similar to a plate or saucer. The joint capsule and labrum of the shoulder encase the ball and this shallow socket, and provides stability. When the shoulder comes out of the socket, injury can occur to the capsule, labrum, or the bone of the socket itself. This can lead to recurrent shoulder instability that can be difficult to treat with physical therapy alone.

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Dr. Pearle performs surgery for shoulder instability when conservative treatment fails. Through advanced techniques, Dr. Pearle is able to perform the majority of these procedures arthroscopically.

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Dr. Pearle feels strongly that patient education is essential for optimal outcome. The video above demonstrates the pathologic condition and surgical technique for shoulder instability surgery (Bankart repair). If considering surgery, please view the animation. Please also read through the Frequently Asked Questions, Risks, and other related information on the section to the right.