The glenoid labrum: does labral lesion location matter?

Background: The glenoid labrum can be torn in 1 or more locations. It is undetermined if the location of the labral tear alters patient outcomes after repair.

Methods: A total of 252 labral repair cases were retrospectively reviewed using prospectively collected patient-ranked outcomes and examiner-determined assessments preoperatively, at 1 week, 6 weeks, 24 weeks, and at a minimum of 2 years after surgery.

Results: Preoperatively, patients who underwent a superior labral repair reported worse pain at night and during activity than patients who subsequently underwent an isolated anterior labral repair or a combined anterior and superior labral repair ( < .05). After surgery, patients who underwent an isolated superior labral repair reported more severe pain at night and during activity, increased stiffness, and less satisfaction with their shoulder than patients who had an isolated anterior ( < .05) or a combined anterior and superior labral repair ( < .05).

Conclusions: Patients with isolated superior labral repairs have more pain both before and after repair than patients who undergo anterior or anterior and superior labral repairs.