.png)
PRP for Shoulder Labral Tears: A Natural Alternative to Steroid Injections
Shoulder labral tears are a common cause of shoulder pain, instability, and mechanical symptoms such as clicking or catching in the joint. The labrum is a ring of cartilage that surrounds the shoulder socket, helping stabilize the shoulder and keep the ball of the joint properly aligned.
Labral tears can occur from sports injuries, repetitive overhead activity, trauma, or gradual degeneration over time.
Many patients with shoulder labral tears are treated with steroid injections, which may temporarily reduce inflammation but do not repair the damaged cartilage. Repeated steroid injections may also contribute to cartilage damage and weakening of surrounding tissues over time.
Regenerative treatments such as high-dose Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) offer a more natural option by supporting the body’s own healing processes within the shoulder.
At Carolina Nonsurgical Orthopedics in Raleigh and Cary, we use ultrasound-guided high-dose PRP injections to help reduce inflammation and support healing in patients with labral injuries.
High-Dose PRP for Shoulder Labral Tears
PRP is created from a small sample of your own blood that is processed to concentrate platelets and healing growth factors. At our clinic we typically use high-dose PRP (double-spin PRP) to produce a higher concentration of platelets and growth factors than standard PRP systems.
The PRP is injected into the shoulder joint using precise ultrasound guidance to target the injured structures.
High-dose PRP may help with:
• Shoulder labral tears
• SLAP tears
• Shoulder instability
• Chronic shoulder inflammation
• Persistent shoulder pain with activity
PRP works by reducing inflammation and stimulating the body’s natural healing response, which may help improve shoulder function and stability over time.
Treating the Entire Shoulder Joint
Shoulder labral injuries often occur alongside irritation of other structures within the shoulder, including the rotator cuff tendons, joint capsule, and surrounding stabilizing tissues.
TREATMENT OPTIONS FOR LABRAL TEARS
As with most orthopedic conditions, patients will often begin with a combination of physical therapy, anti-inflammatories, ice and rest (and in some cases, steroid injections). When these methods are no longer effective, Carolina Nonsurgical Orthopedics offers the latest in cutting-edge treatments to reduce pain and get you back to the activities you enjoy. Some of these innovative alternatives to surgery include Orthobiologics and Regenerative Medicine treatments, such as:
-
Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) Injections: Use your own platelets to reduce inflammation and accelerate healing.
-
Stem Cell Injections: Use your own adipose (fat) cells to stimulate regrowth of damaged tissue (primarily beneficial for arthritis and major injuries).
-
Prolotherapy: Uses dextrose (sugar water) in place of steroid to reduce pain and promote healing.
See the full list of conditions and treatments offered at Carolina Nonsurgical Orthopedics.
READ MORE ABOUT LABRAL TEARS
The shoulder joint is a ball and socket joint, which means a "ball" at the top of the upper arm bone (the humerus) fits neatly into a "socket" (called the glenoid), which is part of the shoulder blade (scapula). The term SLAP (superior: labrum anterior-posterior) lesion or SLAP tear refers to an injury of the superior labrum of the shoulder. The labrum is a ring of fibrous cartilage surrounding the glenoid for stabilization of the shoulder joint. The biceps tendon attaches inside the shoulder joint at the superior labrum of the shoulder joint. The biceps tendon is a long cord-like structure that attaches the biceps muscle to the shoulder and helps to stabilize the joint. Diagnosis of labral tears is made based on the symptoms experienced and physical examination. A regular MRI scan may not reveal a SLAP tear. Therefore, an MRI with a contrast dye injected into the shoulder is ordered, as the contrast dye helps to highlight SLAP tears and aids in the diagnosis of the condition.
WHY CAROLINA
NONSURGICAL ORTHOPEDICS
-
All Providers are BOARD CERTIFIED and Specially Trained in Nonsurgical Orthopedics
-
Over 50,000+ and Counting Procedures Performed
-
Procedures Performed with Ultrasound Guidance for Accuracy and Safety
-
Local and Independent Practice That is NOT a Franchise
-
Discounts for Service Members, Teachers, and Public Servants
-
Serving Raleigh Since 2013