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SLAP Lesions

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Shoulder Arthroscopy

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Abstract

SLAP lesions belong to capsulolabral lesions and can appear isolated or in conjunction with rotator cuff (RC) tears, instability, or/and impingement. The main clinical manifestations include shoulder pain, instability, and functional impairment. It is not a common entity and its prevalence is estimated to be 5% of all shoulder injuries. Thorough knowledge of the anatomy of the labrum, especially the superior, is necessary for correct diagnosis and treatment. Macro-trauma and micro-trauma, usually from repetitive use of the shoulder are the main causes of SLAP lesions. Clinical diagnosis of a SLAP lesion is extremely challenging since no specific examination test exists, and those that are utilized have questionable effectiveness. From the imaging aspect, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and magnetic resonance arthrography (MRA) are the most helpful tools to set the diagnosis. No absolute indications for surgical treatment exist. The persistence of pain and symptoms, which do not resolve after conservative treatment, is the leading cause of applying an operative treatment. Debridement and repair are the preferable means of operative management. Tenodesis instead of repair is applied to middle-aged and older patient groups, though. Postoperative rehabilitation is extremely essential with the main goal being to avoid stiffness.

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  1. Department of Orthopedics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Thessaly, Larisa, Greece

    Michael E. Hantes & Georgios Komnos

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  1. Michael E. Hantes
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Correspondence to Michael E. Hantes .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Joint and Bone Surgery, University of Brescia, Brescia, Brescia, Italy

    Giuseppe Milano

  2. Department of Orthopaedics and Traumatology, Casa di Cura Villa Valeria, Rome, Roma, Italy

    Andrea Grasso

  3. Shoulder and Upper Limb Department, St. Luke's Hospital, Bielsko-Biała, Poland

    Roman Brzóska

  4. Department of Traumatology, University Medical Centre Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia

    Ladislav Kovačič

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Hantes, M.E., Komnos, G. (2023). SLAP Lesions. In: Milano, G., Grasso, A., Brzóska, R., Kovačič, L. (eds) Shoulder Arthroscopy. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-662-66868-9_19

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