Can a labral tear heal on its own?

[Text on screen: The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center
Can a labral tear heal on its own?]

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[Text on screen: Julie Bishop, MD
Orthopedic Surgeon
Ohio State Wexner Medical Center]

Julie Bishop, MD: When someone has a labral tear, it's important to understand that the labrum tears away from the socket and the labrum doesn't have the vascular ability to reattach itself to the socket. So once you tear your labrum, it is permanently torn unless it is reattached. Now, certainly there are times where it can feel better because through other treatments like physical therapy, your shoulder can get stronger and your symptoms can resolve, but it doesn't mean that the labrum actually healed itself to the socket.

[Text on screen: The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center
For more information, visit: go.osu.edu/orthopedics]

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