Arthroscopic stabilization of superior labral (SLAP) tears with biodegradable tack: outcomes to 2 years

This prospective study aimed to document the pain and functional outcomes, over time, of patients whose SLAP lesions had been repaired with biodegradable tacks.

Superior labral tears were identified in 24 patients from a cohort of 500 patients who had shoulder problems sufficiently disabling to warrant arthroscopic evaluation and management. These labral tears were arthroscopically repaired with 1 to 3 biodegradable tacks (mean, 1.6). Before surgery, all patients completed a questionnaire regarding their shoulder pain and function and were given a systematic clinical examination. To observe their postoperative outcomes over time, the same assessments were made at 2 weeks, 6 weeks, 3 months, 6 months, 1 year, and 2 years after surgery.

After labral reattachment, decreases were noted in the patients' mean shoulder pain scores at rest (64% at 3 months), at night (76% at 3 months), and with activity (73% at 6 months). The most significant reductions in mean scores occurred between 6 and 12 weeks (P < .001). Patient-perceived weakness, instability, and stiffness scores also improved from week 6. The ranking of the patients' "overall problem" reduced from an average ranking of "severe" to "mild" by the third preoperative month (P < .001) and was still at this level by the time of their 2-year follow-up appointment. Activity levels for 22 of 24 patients returned to their preinjury levels by 6 months after surgery.

Arthroscopically delivered biodegradable tacks effectively managed superior labral tears and, on average, resulted in a near-complete improvement of pain and recovery of function by 3 months. These good outcomes did not improve further or deteriorate at the 2-year follow-up appointment.

Level IV, therapeutic case series.