Medically reviewed by: Mark A. Yaffe, MD, certified by the American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery, subspecialty certified in hand surgery. Last reviewed: October 5, 2026
SLAP & LABRUM TEAR TREATMENT IN Schaumburg, Buffalo Grove & Elk Grove Village
SLAP & Labrum Tear Treatment in the Chicago Area
Dr. Mark Yaffe(opens in a new tab) is an orthopedic specialist who treats upper extremity conditions, including SLAP tears and other labrum tears of the shoulder. A torn labrum can cause deep shoulder pain, catching or popping, and a feeling that the shoulder is not stable, especially with overhead motion, throwing or lifting. Dr. Yaffe’s goal is to relieve your pain and restore a stable, comfortable shoulder with the least invasive approach that will work for you.
Whether your symptoms started with a sudden injury or developed gradually from overhead activity, Dr. Yaffe offers a thorough evaluation to confirm the diagnosis and a plan matched to your needs. As part of his broader shoulder care(opens in a new tab), he starts with non-surgical treatment when it is appropriate and offers minimally invasive SLAP tear repair, using knotless anchors, when surgery is the right next step.
Dr. Yaffe takes the time to listen to your concerns and explains your options so you can decide what fits your goals. If you are ready to find relief with one of the orthopedic doctors serving Schaumburg(opens in a new tab), Buffalo Grove(opens in a new tab), and Elk Grove Village(opens in a new tab), request your first appointment with Dr. Yaffe today.
Deep Shoulder Pain, Catching & Popping With Overhead Motion
Signs and Symptoms of a SLAP or Labrum Tear
The labrum is a ring of tough cartilage around the shoulder socket that deepens it and helps keep the joint stable. A SLAP tear is a tear at the top of the labrum, where the biceps tendon attaches. Common signs include:
- Deep shoulder pain: An ache deep inside the shoulder that is hard to pinpoint and is often worse with overhead motion.
- Pain frequently flares with throwing, reaching overhead, lifting or reaching behind the back.
- Catching, locking, popping or grinding: A mechanical feeling in the shoulder as the torn labrum catches during movement.
- Weakness and reduced performance: Less strength or control when lifting, pushing or throwing, and a loss of throwing speed in athletes.
- A feeling of instability: A sense that the shoulder may slip or give way, sometimes after a dislocation or a fall.
- Pain at night or with specific tasks: Discomfort when lying on the shoulder or doing a particular movement over and over.
- Labrum tears can feel much like rotator cuff problems, so an exam and imaging help tell them apart.
THERAPY, PRP INJECTIONS & MINIMALLY INVASIVE SLAP TEAR REPAIR
SLAP & Labrum Tear Treatment Options
The right treatment depends on the type and size of the tear, whether the shoulder is unstable, your age, and how much you rely on overhead motion. Dr. Yaffe’s options include:
- Non-surgical care: Rest, avoiding aggravating overhead activity, ice, physical therapy to strengthen the muscles around the shoulder, anti-inflammatory medication, and biologic injection therapy using platelet-rich plasma (PRP), a non-cortisone injection. These measures can help some patients, particularly with milder tears.
- SLAP tear repair surgery: A minimally invasive arthroscopic repair performed through small portal sites using knotless, non-metallic anchors to reattach the torn labrum.
- Minimally-Invasive Surgery(opens in a new tab): Dr. Yaffe uses techniques developed for the upper extremity, with the goal of reducing recovery time and getting you back to work and sports as soon as possible.
- Sports Injuries(opens in a new tab): Dr. Yaffe treats shoulder injuries from throwing, overhead sports and falls, and helps with rehabilitation and getting back to activity safely.
Surgery is considered when pain, catching or instability continue despite non-surgical treatment and limit what you need to do each day. There is no single right plan for every tear, and Dr. Yaffe will walk through your options with you. This page is for education and does not replace an examination, so an in-person evaluation with imaging is the way to confirm your diagnosis and the best plan for you.
About your surgeon. Dr. Mark A. Yaffe is certified by the American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery in orthopaedic surgery, with a subspecialty certification in hand surgery, and is a Fellow of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. He earned his M.D. at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, completed his orthopaedic residency at Northwestern, and trained in hand and upper extremity surgery at The Indiana Hand to Shoulder Center. He was named a Castle Connolly Top Doctor in 2026 and a Chicago Magazine Top Doctor in 2025. Read Dr. Yaffe's full bio.(opens in a new tab)
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a SLAP tear and what causes it?
A SLAP tear is a tear of the labrum at the top of the shoulder socket, where the biceps tendon attaches. It can result from a fall onto an outstretched arm, a sudden pull on the arm, a shoulder dislocation, or repetitive overhead motion such as throwing. It can also develop from gradual wear with age. Dr. Yaffe evaluates how your symptoms began to understand the type of tear.
How are SLAP and labrum tears diagnosed?
Diagnosis starts with your history and a hands-on exam, including checking strength, motion, stability and specific movements that reproduce your pain. X-rays can show other problems, and MRI, sometimes with contrast dye, shows the labrum and biceps attachment in more detail. This helps Dr. Yaffe recommend the right treatment.
Can a SLAP tear heal without surgery?
Some patients improve with rest, activity changes, physical therapy, anti-inflammatory medication and injections, especially with milder tears. A torn labrum generally does not heal back to the bone on its own, so tears that keep causing pain, catching or instability may need repair. Dr. Yaffe will help you weigh your options.
How is a labrum tear different from a rotator cuff tear?
The labrum is cartilage that deepens and stabilizes the shoulder socket, while the rotator cuff is a group of muscles and tendons that move and center the arm. Both can cause shoulder pain and weakness with overhead motion, and they sometimes occur together. An exam and imaging help Dr. Yaffe tell which structures are injured.
When is surgery recommended for a SLAP tear?
Surgery is worth discussing when pain, catching or instability continue despite non-surgical treatment and interfere with work, sports or daily life, or when the tear is associated with shoulder instability. Because every patient is different, Dr. Yaffe reviews the expected benefits and risks with you so you can make an informed decision before moving forward.
How does SLAP tear repair surgery work?
SLAP tear repair is a minimally invasive(opens in a new tab) arthroscopic procedure performed through small portal sites. Dr. Yaffe uses knotless, non-metallic anchors to reattach the torn labrum to the bone, which is designed to restore stability and relieve pain. Results vary by patient, and he will discuss what to expect for your situation.
What can I expect during my recovery from SLAP tear repair?
After repair, the shoulder is protected while the labrum heals, followed by a gradual return of motion and then strengthening with physical therapy. Dr. Yaffe will give you specific instructions for each stage, including when to return to work, sports and overhead or throwing activity. Recovery often takes several months, and timelines vary from patient to patient.
How can I get started with the best shoulder specialist near me?
At Dr. Yaffe’s practice, we want it to be as easy as possible to get started on your road to recovery. Just use our simple online appointment request(opens in a new tab) tool, and it helps to note whether your pain started with an injury and what movements hurt most.
Get Your Shoulder Pain Evaluated by an Orthopedic Specialist
Expert Orthopedic Care from Mark A. Yaffe, M.D.