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Founded in 1856, St John & St Elizabeth Hospital is one of the UK’s largest independent charitable hospitals. Our commitment to our patients is in the quality of our care, the range of our services and the quality of our consultants and staff.
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St John & St Elizabeth Hospital is renowned for its highly specialised clinics that provide exemplary care for patients. Our expert Consultants cover the full range of specialties and are able to treat almost any medical condition.
We’re proud to be the chosen Hospital for some of the world’s leading Consultants. Our specialist Consultants cover a wide range of specialisms and are committed to our values as a Hospital.
The labrum is a cup shaped rim of fibrous tissue that gives stability to the shoulder joint. It is where the ligaments and tendons attach to enforce the stability through a range of movement.
It can become torn at any point in its position in the shoulder’s shallow socket and ball structure.
Known as labral tears, they are normally caused by falling on an outstretched hand or by trauma contact in sports injuries or accidents. Golfers are prone to labral tears as their club strikes the ground during the golf swing
They can occur as part of natural wear and tear of the aging process.
The main symptom is a pop or caching sensation during certain movements followed by an ache that can last several hours. The damage may not cause any pain but may result in the shoulder feeling loose.
A doctor can pinpoint a labral tear from medical history and physical examination. MRI scans can determine the exact site and extent of the tear and its influence on tendons and muscles.
The tears are graded by severity and the point in the labrum which is damaged. A Type I tear, which involves a fraying of the labrum, are normally treated by targeted physiotherapy which restores lost motion and conditions the shoulder anatomy to work more efficiently and allow the tear to heal.
A Type II tear is when the labrum detaches from the bone and an arthroscopy – a minimally invasive surgical procedure on the joint – which allows consultants to place anchors on the bone so the labrum can be stitched back and heal in the correct position. This is generally an outpatient procedure with the patient able to return home on the same day with follow-up physiotherapy appointments to ease the shoulder back to normal function.
To ask a question about a labral tear or to book an appointment, contact our specialist team available Monday – Friday 8am – 6pm. Our shoulder team have a dedicated and caring approach and will seek to find you the earliest appointment possible with the correct specialist for your needs.
If you are self-paying you don’t need a referral from your GP. You can simply refer yourself and book an appointment. If you have medical insurance (e.g. Bupa, Axa PPP, Aviva), you will need to contact your insurer for authorisation for any treatment and, in most cases, you will require a referral letter from your GP.
If you do not have a GP, then we have an in-house private GP practice that you can use. Alternatively we can suggest the most appropriate course of action for you to take, given your location and individual circumstance.
Call us on 020 7806 4004 or email us at [email protected].
With a team of experts, our London-based Shoulder Unit offers diagnosis and treatment of injuries and musculoskeletal conditions affecting the shoulder. Our state-of-the-art facilities include operating theatres, physiotherapy and imaging.
Our Hospital is renowned for providing exemplary levels of care across more than 90 services. From orthopaedics, to urology, our private GP practice and Urgent Care Clinic, our services are led by some of London’s leading Consultants. For more information, and to find a service suitable for your care, find out more about the services that we offer.
If you have any questions relating to treatment options or pricing information, get in touch with us by filling out one of our contact boxes or giving us a call on 020 7806 4004.
Our Appointments Team have a dedicated and caring approach to finding you the earliest appointment possible with the best specialist.
If you are self-paying you don’t need a referral from your GP for a consultation. You can simply refer yourself* and book an appointment.
If you have health insurance (e.g. Bupa, Axa Health, Aviva), you will need to contact your insurer to get authorisation before any treatment, and in most cases you will also require a referral letter from your GP.
If you are not registered with a GP, we have an in-house private GP practice you can use. Alternatively, we can suggest the most appropriate course of action for you to take, given your location and individual circumstances.
*Please note – for investigations such as X-rays and MRIs, a referral will be required. However, we may be able to arrange this for you through our on-site private GP.
