Short-term clinical results after arthroscopic type II SLAP repair

The purpose of this study was to retrospectively review the clinical results of arthroscopic repair of type II SLAP lesions with respect to daily living activities and return to preinjury sports level.

Twenty-one patients with an average age of 28 (range 18-44 years, respectively) underwent arthroscopic repair of isolated type II SLAP lesions. Surgery was performed by two of the senior authors with specialty training in arthroscopic shoulder surgery. Mean follow-up was 30.3 months (range 12-71 months, respectively). The clinical results were objectively measured using the individual relative Constant score (CS(indiv)).

At follow-up the mean CS(indiv) was 92 % (range 78-100 %). Restrictions to active motion were seen in six patients (28.6 %), four (19 %) in internal rotation and two (9.5 %) in external rotation but not all of these were restricted in their activities of daily living. Five patients (23.8 %) had an affected sleep, three patients (14.3 %) were limited in sports and one patient (4.7 %) was restricted at work. After surgery, 18 of 21 patients (85.7 %) regained preinjury sports level.

Although the rehabilitation process may be affected by a protracted period of pain, a long-term limitation of the range of motion (ROM) after surgery is very unlikely. The results in this study are encouraging and the authors recommend anatomic restoration and repair of type II SLAP lesions.