The injury of the superior labrum of the shoulder is called SLAP Lesion Repair.

What is SLAP Lesion?

The shoulder joint has a ball and socket joint. The ball is at the top of the upper arm bone and fits into a socket called glenoid. When there is an injury to the superior labrum of the shoulder, it is called SLAP lesion.

The labrum is a ring consisting of fibrous cartilage which surrounds glenoid for providing stability to the shoulder joint. The biceps tendons are responsible for attaching inside of the shoulder joint to the superior labrum of the shoulder joint. The cord-like structure of the biceps tendon attaches it to the shoulder and helps stabilize the joint.

Some of the most common reasons for SLAP lesion is falling on an outstretched arm, lifting a heavy object, or repetitive overhead actions like throwing. Many of the contact sports put the patient at greater risk of developing SLAP lesions.

Symptoms of SLAP Lesion

These are some of the common SLAP lesions.

Diagnosis

The diagnosis of the SLAP lesion varies with the change in the patient’s medical condition. The most common way of diagnosing SLAP lesion is an MRI scan.

Treatment Options

The orthopedic surgeon may advise the patient to use anti-inflammatory medicines to control pain. The orthopedic surgeon might recommend arthroscopic surgery of the shoulder to athletes who want to continue playing their sport. Sometimes, the surgeon may advise debridement or repair of the SLAP lesion. The surgeon may use different types of arthroscopic techniques with two or three small incisions for SLAP repair.

The doctor may also recommend regular exercise for the impacted shoulder muscles to improve their strength. The patients are advised to closely follow the instructions and warm-up exercises before doing the actual exercises. They are usually suggested not to indulge in high contact supports to prevent further injuries which may cause instability.