SLAP lesions of the shoulder

https://doi.org/10.1016/0749-8063(90)90056-JGet rights and content

Abstract

A specific pattern of injury to the superior labrum of the shoulder was identified arthroscopically in twenty-seven patients included in a retrospective review of more than 700 shoulder arthroscopies performed at our institution. The injury of the superior labrum begins posteriorly and extends anteriorly, stopping before or at the mid-glenoid notch and including the “anchor” of the biceps tendon to the labrum. We have labeled this injury a “SLAP lesion” (SuperiorLabrumAnterior andPosterior). There were 23 males and four females with an average age of 37.5 years. Time from injury to surgery averaged 29.3 months. The most common mechanism of injury was a compression force to the shoulder, usually as the result of a fall onto an out-stretched arm, with the shoulder positioned in abduction and slight forward flexion at the time of the impact. The most common clinical complaints were pain, greater with overhead activity, and a painful “catching” or “popping” in the shoulder. No imaging test accurately defined the superior labral pathology preoperatively. We divided the superior labrum pathology into four distinct types. Treatment was performed arthroscopically based on the type of SLAP lesion noted at the time of surgery. The SLAP lesion, which has not been previously described, can be diagnosed only arthroscopically and may be treated successfully by arthroscopic techniques alone in many patients.

References (3)

  • DetrisacD.A. et al.

    Arthroscopic shoulder anatomy: pathologic and surgical implications

    (1986)
There are more references available in the full text version of this article.

Cited by (1178)

View all citing articles on Scopus

The technique described in this article will be demonstrated in a forthcoming Video Supplement to Arthroscopy.

View full text