At our Columbus location, Dr. Joseph Wilcox has 25+ years specializing in minimally invasive procedures that repair the labrum while preserving long-term shoulder strength, stability, and function.
The labrum is a ring of cartilage that helps keep your shoulder joint stable — like a cushion that holds the ball of your upper arm bone in the socket.
A labral tear means that this cartilage has been damaged or torn, which can cause pain, weakness, clicking, or a feeling that your shoulder might slip or catch during movement.
Our patients usually have at least one of these signs when they have a torn labrum:
Shoulder pain when lifting your arm
Shoulder pain when lifting your arm
Shoulder pain when lifting your arm
Shoulder pain when lifting your arm
Shoulder pain when lifting your arm
Shoulder pain when lifting your arm
Not all labral tears are the same. Your treatment plan will depend on where the tear is located, how it happened, and how it affects your shoulder function. Here are the most common types we see:
(Superior Labrum from Anterior to Posterior)
Common in overhead athletes or after falls. May involve the biceps tendon and cause pain with lifting or throwing.
Often occurs after a dislocation. Can make your shoulder feel unstable or like it might “slip out.”
Less common, but can cause pain with pushing movements or bench pressing.
Usually due to wear and tear over time. Often seen in older adults and may cause aching and weakness.
The most reliable way to confirm a shoulder labral tear is through a high-quality MRI — interpreted by a specialist who understands your full story, not just the scan.
At The Joint Preservation Center, we don’t rely on imaging alone. We take time to evaluate your shoulder thoroughly, understand your symptoms and history. If appropriate — and you don’t yet have a reliable MRI — we’ll order one that gives us the clarity we need to guide your care.
We’ll help you understand what it means and what comes next.
Treatment for a shoulder labral tear depends on several factors, including:
The key is working with a shoulder specialist who has the experience and the judgment to recommend what’s truly best for your recovery and long-term quality of life.
Below is a breakdown of the two main paths to treating a labral tear.
| Category | Non-Surgical (Conservative) | Surgical Treatment |
|---|---|---|
| What It Includes |
|
|
| Best For | Minor tears, low-demand patients, or those not needing surgery right away | Significant tears, instability, failed conservative care, athletes, or physically active individuals |
| Goal | Reduce pain and improve function without surgery | Restore joint stability, relieve symptoms, and preserve shoulder function |
| Pros |
|
|
| Cons |
|
|
Minor tears, low-demand patients, or those not needing surgery right away
Reduce pain and improve function without surgery
Significant tears, instability, failed conservative care, athletes, or physically active individuals
Restore joint stability, relieve symptoms, and preserve shoulder function
That’s exactly what we’re here to help with.
Or, if you already have an MRI:
If pain continues, your shoulder feels unstable, or your daily activities are limited — surgery may be the next best step. At this point, you deserve more than just clinical expertise. You deserve time, clarity, and extraordinary care.
At The Joint Preservation Center, our job is to guide you with empathy and transparency.
We will:
Review your MRI and explain exactly what it shows in plain, simple language.
Help you understand treatment options based on your goals and particular needs.
If surgery is needed, walk you through our procedures and techniques.
Answer every question until you feel confident and supported in your decision.
When surgery is necessary to repair a torn labrum, arthroscopic labral repair is widely considered the most effective — and least disruptive — option available today.
Unlike traditional open surgery, arthroscopy is minimally invasive. It uses tiny incisions, a high-definition camera, and specialized tools to access and repair your shoulder with remarkable precision.
This means less trauma to the surrounding tissue, fewer complications, and a smoother path back to strength and stability.
The shoulder labrum is delicate and complex.
Repairing it — especially through a minimally invasive approach — requires fellowship-level training, years of focused experience, and a deep understanding of shoulder biomechanics.
When done well, labral repair can restore shoulder strength, stability, and long-term function.
When done poorly, it can result in persistent pain, limited motion, and even the need for revision surgery.
At the Joint Preservation, our specialists perform Labral Repairs every week — not once in a while.
Your shoulder deserves better than a generalist.
When it comes to shoulder surgery, the difference between short-term relief and long-term success often comes down to one thing: Who’s holding the scalpel.
There are over 20,000 orthopedic surgeons in the U.S.
But only a small percentage specialize in shoulder procedures like labral tear repair — and fewer still have deep experience with advanced, minimally invasive techniques.
Board-Certified Orthopedic Surgeon | Fellowship-Trained Shoulder Specialist.
Dr. Joseph Wilcox is a board-certified orthopedic surgeon and a recognized expert in arthroscopic labral repair — the minimally invasive procedure used to restore stability and function to shoulders with labral tears. Over his 25+ year career, he has successfully performed hundreds of labral repairs for athletes, active adults, and patients who simply want to move without pain.
After earning his medical degree from the University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine, Dr. Wilcox completed his orthopedic surgery residency at Emory University in Atlanta and advanced fellowship training at The Ohio State University Hospital, focusing on sports medicine and shoulder preservation.
As a member of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons and the Arthroscopic Association of North America, Dr. Wilcox stays at the forefront of surgical innovation. His mastery of minimally invasive arthroscopic techniques means smaller incisions, less post-operative pain, and faster recovery — without compromising long-term shoulder health.
For more than 15 years, Dr. Wilcox has also served as a team physician for high school and collegiate athletes, treating complex shoulder injuries with the goal of helping every patient return to the activities they love — with a shoulder they can trust for years to come.
We don’t just repair labral tears — we help you preserve and restore your shoulder so you can return to strength, movement, and peace of mind.
Whether that means elite sports, demanding work, or simply living pain-free — we’re here to get you there.
Each of our specialists has over 25 years of experience and has performed 1,000+ orthopedic surgeries individually — with a focus on joint preservation and shoulder repair.
We use proprietary and state-of-the-art methods that result in smaller incisions, less pain, and a faster return to normal activity.
You don’t just get one opinion — you get the benefit of a team that works together behind the scenes, combining experience and insight to guide your care.
We operate in leading surgical centers equipped with the latest technology to ensure your safety, comfort, and the best possible outcome.
As a private, out-of-network practice, we’re able to offer more time with your surgeon, personalized attention, and a care plan tailored to your goals.
From first consultation to post-op recovery, we combine smart digital tools with personal guidance to make every step easier, faster, and more connected.
At The Joint Preservation Center, we believe in full accountability — that’s why our surgeons measure every patient’s symptoms, function, and shoulder-related quality of life both before and after surgery.
By tracking your progress over time, we ensure your treatment is not only successful — but meaningful in the long run.
While all surgeons should be tracking their results, most don’t.
Without real data, they can’t truly know what’s working — or what’s not.
We do things differently.
We use OutcomeMD, a HIPAA-compliant platform that independently measures and verifies each patient’s outcome scores, so we can:
Don’t wait — your shoulder won’t heal itself.
Ongoing shoulder pain, popping, or instability often means something deeper is going on — and without the right treatment, it can get worse over time.
At The Joint Preservation Center, we’ll help you understand exactly what’s happening inside your shoulder — and what can be done to fix it.
You don’t have to live with the pain — and you don’t have to figure it out alone.
We know it’s not always easy to take time off or travel just to get answers.
That’s why our doctors offer virtual consultations via Zoom for eligible patients — especially if you:
Already have an MRI and want a second opinion
Are exploring whether surgery is the right step
Want expert guidance before committing to in-person care
You’ll meet directly with a shoulder specialist to discuss your symptoms, imaging, and next steps — all from the comfort of your home.
While arthroscopic labral repair is the most common and effective surgical treatment for many labral tears, the approach depends on the type, location, and severity of the tear — as well as the patient’s age, goals, and shoulder stability.
| Labral Tear Type | Is Arthroscopic Repair Common? | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| SLAP Tear | Often, yes | In younger or athletic patients, repair is common. In older patients, biceps tenodesis (repositioning the tendon) may be a better choice. |
| Bankart Lesion | Yes | Often done after a shoulder dislocation. Repair restores stability. |
| Posterior Labral Tear | Yes | Common in contact athletes or weightlifters. Repair improves posterior stability. |
| Degenerative or Frayed Labrum | Sometimes | If tissue is too damaged to repair, debridement (trimming the frayed tissue) may be recommended instead of full repair. |
| Combined/Massive Tears | Case-by-case | May require a combination of repair, tenodesis, or other techniques. |
In younger or athletic patients, repair is common. In older patients, biceps tenodesis (repositioning the tendon) may be a better choice.
Often done after a shoulder dislocation. Repair restores stability.
Common in contact athletes or weightlifters. Repair improves posterior stability.
If tissue is too damaged to repair, debridement (trimming the frayed tissue) may be recommended instead of full repair.
May require a combination of repair, tenodesis, or other techniques.
Recovery depends on the tear, your activity level, and how committed you are to rehab.
Most patients:
“Will I be able to lift weights again?”
“Can I carry my toddler?”
“How long before I can drive?”
We’ll answer all these questions — clearly and honestly — so you know what to expect.
Labral tears generally do not heal on their own. However, many patients experience significant symptom relief with non-surgical treatments such as physical therapy, activity modification, and anti-inflammatory medications.
Don’t Wait. Your Shoulder Health Won’t Improve On Its Own.
Shoulder pain can worsen over time — especially if you keep training, lifting, or sleeping on it.
Let’s find out what’s really going on — and what can be done about it.
If you have a PPO insurance with out-of-network benefits, you will only be responsible for your in-network copay/deductible (if you proceed with surgery) and there is no charge for the office visits.
Dr. Wilcox exclusively works with surgery centers that are in-network with the following insurances:
Dr. Wilcox accepts most PPO insurances that have out-of-network benefits.
Note: If you do not have a PPO with out-of-network benefits, you can still see Dr. Wilcox and the surgery center will still be in-network. In this case, he charges $350 for the initial office visit (all follow ups are included at this price). Surgery is typically in the range of $7k – $15k depending on what you need done.
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