Glenoid labral tears without capsular or ligamentous detachment are being reported with increasing frequency. Yet, the significance and need for treatment of these injuries remain controversial. Labral tears often occur with other glenohumeral pathology making the diagnosis difficult. The current preferred treatment method is arthroscopic labral débridement, and this has a seemingly good initial outcome. Recent long-term follow-up studies, however, have shown that this treatment has only moderately good results at more than 2-year follow up. Labral tears may occur from instability, and labral débridement in these shoulders has disappointing results unless surgical stabilization is also performed.