This injury is a tear of the labrum, a thick band of cartilage that lines the rim of the glenoid (which is commonly called the shoulder socket). The labrum cushions the head of the humerus and holds it securely to the glenoid, stabilizing the joint.

Glenoid labrum tears can result from shoulder dislocation, repetitive overhead motion or direct trauma. A SLAP tear is a specific type of labrum tear that affects the upper portion of the labrum where the biceps tendon attaches. Labrum tears caused by dislocation may also occur alongside a Hill-Sachs lesion, a compression fracture of the humeral head. Patients with loose shoulder (multidirectional instability) may be more susceptible to labrum damage from repeated subluxations.

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