On June 13th, 2018, the Los Angeles Angels’ third baseman Zack Cozart had a sore shoulder after he dove for a ground ball. The team doctors said it was a left shoulder subluxation. Subluxation means that the joint came slightly out of joint, partially tearing some ligaments, but did not result in dislocation.

He sought an independent opinion from Dr. Neal ElAttrache, head team physician for the Los Angeles Dodgers and Los Angeles Rams as well as orthopedic consultant to the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, Los Angeles Clippers, Los Angeles Kings, Anaheim Ducks and the PGA Tour. An MRI was obtained showing a tear of the labrum in his left shoulder. The working diagnosis is a torn labrum.

The socket of the shoulder joint is called the glenoid. The glenoid is quite flat. The glenoid labrum is a circular rim of flexible cartilage that deepens and helps stabilize the shoulder joint. This is called the glenoid labrum.

Surgery was recommended to repair Cozart’s torn labrum and he will be out for the remainder of the season.

This blog was written by Katharine Clement and David Ring.