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Superior Glenoid Labrum Lesions: (SLAP)

- See: proximal biceps tendonopathy

- Discussion:
    - refers to a detachment lesion of the superior aspect of glenoid labrum, which serves as the insertion of  long head of biceps;
    - relatively common injury in throwing atheletes, but may most commonly occur in patients who have fallen or who have received a blow on the shoulder;
    - references:
            - Kinetics of baseball pitching with implications about injury mechanisms.
            - A Cadaveric Model of the Throwing Shoulder: A Possible Etiology of Superior Labrum Anterior-to-Posterior Lesions.
            - Failure of biceps superior labral complex: A cadaveric biomechanical investigation comparing late cocking and early deceleration positions of throwing. 
            - The role of long head of biceps muscle and superior glenoid labrum in anterior stability of the shoulder. Am J. Sports Med. Vol 22. 1994. p 121-130.
            - Effect of lesions of the superior portion of the glenoid labrum on glenohumeral translation. 
    - varient anatomy:
            - in 50% of patients, biceps predominately attaches to supraglenoid tubercle where as in other half biceps predominately attaches to superior labrum;
            - slight detachment of the superior posterior labrum may be normal in older aults;
            - Buford complex: (see shoulder capsule)
                   - anatomical variant: MGHL ligament appears cord-like and will often be frayed and is often associated w/ a physiologic antero-superior sublabral hole; 
                   - glenoid labrum opposite of the MGHL will often be absent;
                   - attempts to close down this sub-labral hole w/ a absorable tack anchor may precipitate frozen shoulder;
                   - in most cases a SLAP lesion will show infammatory changes around the biceps tendon origin; 
            - arthroscopic findings: (true slap vs normal findings)
                         - glenoid chondromalacia in the area of detachment, with corresponding fraying on the underside of the detached labrum and glenoid;
                         - anterior cannula may be used to hold labrum against the glenoid while the shoulder is externally rotated;
                         - normal variants will pop free with external rotation, while tears can be held inplace;
            - references:
                   - Buford complex: "cord like" MGHL and absent anterosuperior labrum complex: a normal anatomic capsulolabral variant. Arthroscopy 10: p 241-247. 1994.
                   - Relationship between the tendon of the long head of biceps brachii and the glenoidal labrum in humans.
                   - Normal variations of the glenohumeral ligament complex: an anatomic study for arthroscopic bankart repair.
                   - Anatomical Variants in the Anterosuperior Aspect of the Glenoid Labrum. 
                   - Repair of SLAP Lesions Associated With a Buford Complex: A Novel Surgical Technique
    - associated conditions:
            - rotator cuff pathology is present in 40%;
            - anterior instability
                   - ref: Risk of motion loss with combined Bankart and SLAP repairs.
            - spinoglenoid cysts
                   - Treatment of Labral Tears with Associated Spinoglenoid Cysts without Cyst Decompression
 


- Radiographic Findings:
    - references:
          - Injuries of the superior portion of the glenoid labrum involving the insertion of the biceps tendon: MR imaging findings in nine cases.
          - Labral injuries: accuracy of detection with unenhanced MR imaging of the shoulder.


- Clinical Findings:
    - pain w/ overhead activity which may mimic impingement syndrome (see throwing shoulder)
    - mechanicals symptoms;
    - references:
           - The Resisted Supination External Rotation Test.  A New Test for the Diagnosis of Superior Labral Anterior Posterior Lesions. 
           - The SLAP lesion: a cause of failure after distal clavicle resection
           - A clinical test for superior glenoid labral or 'SLAP' lesions.


- Classification and Treatment:
    - type I:
            - fraying and degeneration of the superior labrum, normal biceps (no detachment);
            - most common type of SLAP tear (75% of SLAP tears);
            - often associated with rotator cuff tears;
            - these are treated w/ debridement;
    - type II:
            - detachment of superior labrum and biceps insertion from the supra-glenoid tuberlce;
            - when traction is applied to the biceps, the labrum arches away from the glenoid;
            - typically the superior and middle glenohumeral ligaments are unstable;
            - may resemble a normal variant (Buford complex);
            - 3 subtypes: based on detachment of labrum involved anterior aspect of labrum alone, the posterior aspect alone, or both aspects;
                   - posterior labram tears may be caused by impingement of cuff against the labrum with the arm in the abducted and externally rotated position;
            - as noted by Tae Kyun Kim et al. type-II lesions in patients older than 40 years of age were associated with a supraspinatus tear where as
                   in patients younger than 40 years were associated with participation in overhead sports and a Bankart lesion;
            - treatment involves anatomic arthroscopic repair; 
            - references:
                   - Biomechanical analysis of isolated type II SLAP lesions and repair.
                   - Type II SLAP lesions: three subtypes and their relationships to superior instability and rotator cuff tears. 
                   - Ganglion cysts of the shoulder: technique of arthroscopic decompression and fixation of associated type II SLAP lesions.
                   - Shoulder injuries in overhead athletes. The "dead arm" revisited.
                   - Differences in Ultimate Strength of the Biceps Anchor and the Generation of Type II SLAP Lesions in a Cadaveric Model. 
                   - Treatment of Labral Tears with Associated Spinoglenoid Cysts without Cyst Decompression
                   - Arthroscopic Treatment of Concomitant Superior Labral Anterior Posterior (SLAP) Lesions and Rotator Cuff Tears in Patients Over the Age of 45 Years
                   - Outcomes After Arthroscopic Repair of Type-II SLAP Lesions
                   - A biomechanical comparison of two suture anchor configurations for the repair of type II SLAP lesions subjected to a peel-back mechanism of failure.
                   - Quantifying the extent of a type II SLAP lesion required to cause peel-back of the glenoid labrum--a cadaveric study.

    - type III:
            - bucket handle type tear;
            - biceps anchor is intact;
    - type IV
            - vertical tear (bucket-handle tear) of the superior labrum, which extends into biceps (intrasubstance tear);
            - may be treated w/ biceps tenodesis if more than 50% of the tendon is involved; 



- Arthroscopic Technique: - see: shoulder arthroscopy
    - anterior portal
            - anterior portal needs to be positioned along superior aspect of the rotator interval anteriorly and slightly superior to the biceps tendon; 
            - second portal is made just above the subscapularis; 
    - transtendon portal:
            -
Percutaneous SLAP Lesion Repair Technique Is an Effective Alternative to Portal of Wilmington

    - labral exposure:
            - consider passing a heavy suture under the labrum and bringing both ends of the suture out of the end of the canula;
            - tension is kept constant by applying a clamp over the sutures at the end of the canula.
            - this will keep the labram out of the way while drilling and suture passage is completed.
            - once the labrum is ready to be secured, tension on the stay suture is released;
    - anchor position:
            - goal is insertion within the superior glenoid tubercle;
            - consider hand tamping the drill bit instead of power drilling, so that the drill bit will not skive;
            - posterior fixation:
                    - A biomechanical comparison of two suture anchor configurations for the repair of type II SLAP lesions subjected to a peel-back mechanism of failure.
    - arthroscopic knots:

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