Understanding Ja Morant’s Shoulder Labrum Tear and Surgery
- Post By: Jeff Stotts
- Date:
- Category: NBA, Understanding...
On Monday evening, the Memphis Grizzlies revealed Ja Morant suffered a shoulder subluxation during Saturday’s practice. The injury resulted in cartilage damage forcing Morant to undergo season-ending shoulder surgery.
As discussed multiple times here on InStreetClothes.com, injuries can occur to one of the multiple joints the make up the shoulder complex.
The shoulder complex begins at the chest with the sternoclavicular (SC) joint where the clavicle (collarbone) connects to the sternum (breastbone). On its opposite end, the collarbone joins with the scapula (shoulder blade) forming the acromioclavicular (AC) joint.
The third joint of the shoulder, the glenohumeral (GH) joint, is the one most people associate with the shoulder and is the one Morant injured. The GH joint is the ball-and-socket joint of the shoulder, and its design allows the joint to have a high degree of mobility. Unfortunately, stability is sacrificed to allow this large amounts of movement. Even though the area is reinforced by ligaments, muscle, and cartilage ring known as the labrum, it remains vulnerable to injury.
If enough force is applied to the GH joint, the humerus (the ball) can be forced out of alignment from the glenoid (the socket). If the surrounding structures naturally realign the joint, the injury is referred to as a subluxation or partial dislocation. A true dislocation occurs when the displacement of the joint is complete. Following a true dislocation, the joint may need to be realigned by medical personnel and is considered a much more serious injury.
The return to play time following a GH joint subluxation or dislocation is often associated with the amount of damage to the surrounding tissues, especially the labrum. If the tear is small and the instability is minimal, conservative treatment, including physical therapy, can be used to address any resulting symptoms and restore the stability of the joint. Still, even after conservative treatment, surgery may still be necessary in the future. Players like Paul George, Carmelo Anthony, and Tracy McGrady all played through labrum tears during the regular season only to go under the knife in the offseason.
However, a significant labrum tear often requires immediate surgery, especially if the injury results in substantial instability. Multiple NBA players have sustained traumatic shoulder dislocations with associated labrum tears. Kevin Love notably tore his labrum during the 2015 playoffs following an anterior-inferior dislocation. Former Magic point guard Jameer Nelson missed 35 regular season games and most of Orlando’s run to the 2009 Finals after dislocating his shoulder that required a labral repair.
Fortunately, the success rate for labrum repairs in the NBA is high with surgery reducing the likelihood of a subsequent instability. Current NBA players to return to action and play at a high level after having a labrum injury include George, Pascal Siakam, Jalen Brunson, and Coby White. According to the InStreeClothes.com/SMART database, the average time lost following surgery for a labrum injury is roughly 156 days (20 weeks or 5 months).
Morant’s suspension to start the year and the team’s poor performance during his absence may have influenced the decision to opt for surgery now. However, the decision is a justified one as acting now reduces the chances of Morant’s recovery carrying over into the 2024-25 season. Morant now joins teammate Steven Adams as the second player to undergo season-ending surgery after the center needed surgery on his knee in early November.