Outcomes of isolated type II SLAP lesions treated with arthroscopic fixation using a bioabsorbable tack.
OBJECTIVE
The objective was to clinically evaluate the treatment of type II Slap lesions repaired surgically using a bioabsorbable device.


METHODS
Retrospective clinical follow-up study.


METHODS
Forty-one patients with isolated type II SLAP lesions who were treated with arthroscopic fixation were identified. Patients were excluded for rotator cuff tears, instability, or subacromial decompression. Patients completed the L'Insalata and the American Society of Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons (ASES) questionnaires, and underwent a thorough shoulder examination at a minimum of 2 years postoperatively.


RESULTS
At a mean of 3.7 years follow-up, 33 of 41 patients returned for physical examination and 6 others returned the L'Insalata questionnaire. The mean L'Insalata and ASES scores were 86.7 and 86.8, respectively; 27 patients reported their satisfaction as good to excellent but only 14 of the 29 athletes returned to their preinjury level of athletics. The average ASES scores were statistically different in patients who had their rotator cuff pierced versus those who did not (P< .05). In addition, 13 of 16 patients who experienced night pain had a cuff piercing approach.


CONCLUSIONS
Despite high outcome scores, overall patient satisfaction was only 71%. In addition, up to 41% continued to experience some degree of night pain. Patients treated with a rotator cuff piercing had a significantly poorer outcome. Moreover, the patients who were athletes performed poorer on their outcomes evaluation than did their nonathletic counterparts. Whereas the outcome scores overall were high, this problem is still difficult to treat successfully. This may be because of the high demands of athletes. The data also suggest that placing portals through the rotator cuff may be associated with poorer surgical outcomes.


METHODS
Level III.
Cohen
David B
DB
Sports Medicine and Shoulder Service, Hospital for Special Surgery Cornell Medical Center, New York, New York, USA.
Coleman
Struan
S
Drakos
Mark C
MC
Allen
Answorth A
AA
O'Brien
Stephen J
SJ
Altchek
David W
DW
Warren
Russell F
RF
D020341:Absorbable Implants; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001182:Arthroscopy; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D000070599:Shoulder Injuries; D012785:Shoulder Joint / Q000601:surgery*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016896:Treatment Outcome