Most studies report good to excellent results after SLAP repairs in 84-97% of patients.5-7 However, some patients may not do as well with a SLAP repair, particularly those with biceps tendinitis or partial tearing of the biceps tendon.8 In these cases, treatment of a SLAP tear may necessitate detachment of the biceps tendon from the torn superior labrum. This can be done in several…

Accurate diagnosis of SLAP lesions often requires an MRI with a special contrast injected into the joint. Although the literature is variable, most studies show that a conventional MRI allows for the detection of labral injuries only 26-62% of the time. When contrast is added, our ability to diagnose these injuries increases to over 90%…

Superior Labrum Anterior and Posterior (SLAP) lesions describe a spectrum of injuries to the superior portion of the labrum, where one of the two biceps tendons partially attaches. The labrum is a bumper with a rubber-like consistency that surrounds the socket (i.e. glenoid) of the shoulder. It provides stability to the shoulder and is an important attachment site for the biceps tendon and other shoulder ligaments…