Arthroscopic repair of type II superior labral anterior posterior lesions with and without acromioplasty: a clinical analysis of 50 patients.
BACKGROUND
The treatment of type II superior labral anterior posterior (SLAP) lesions remains controversial. Many surgeons are reluctant to combine a SLAP repair with an acromioplasty for fear of postoperative shoulder stiffness and a poor clinical outcome.


OBJECTIVE
A SLAP repair and an acromioplasty done concomitantly may yield acceptable outcomes.


METHODS
Case series; Level of evidence, 4.


METHODS
We compared the clinical results of 50 patients who had either an isolated type II SLAP repair (SLAP group, 34 patients) or a combined type II SLAP repair and acromioplasty (combined group, 16 patients). Patients were excluded for full-thickness rotator cuff tears or instability. All patients were evaluated with the L'Insalata Functional Shoulder Rating Questionnaire, with the American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons (ASES) questionnaire, and by subjective evaluation.


RESULTS
At an average of 3.4 years postoperatively, the L'Insalata and ASES scores were similar for the 2 groups: 87.1 and 85.8 for the SLAP group and 85.1 and 86.5 for the combined group, respectively (P > .05). Subjectively, only 65% of the patients in the SLAP group reported a "good" or "excellent" satisfaction with the surgery, compared with an 81% "good" or "excellent" satisfaction rating among the patients in the combined group. Seven patients (21%) in the SLAP group had postoperative clinical impingement, compared with no patients (0%) in the combined group (P < .03).


CONCLUSIONS
According to our data, these 2 procedures done concomitantly may yield acceptable outcomes. Our findings indicated that a combined type II SLAP repair and acromioplasty had no negative effect clinically and, furthermore, appeared to prevent residual clinical impingement.
Coleman
Struan H
SH
Sports Medicine and Shoulder Service, Hospital for Special Surgery, 535 East 71st Street, New York, NY 10021, USA.
Cohen
David B
DB
Drakos
Mark C
MC
Allen
Answorth A
AA
Williams
Riley J
RJ
O'brien
Stephen J
SJ
Altchek
David W
DW
Warren
Russell F
RF
D000173:Acromioclavicular Joint / Q000601:surgery*; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001182:Arthroscopy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007593:Joint Instability; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019637:Orthopedic Procedures; D011184:Postoperative Period; D011446:Prospective Studies; D019651:Plastic Surgery Procedures; D012540:Scapula / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D012785:Shoulder Joint / Q000601:surgery; D020069:Shoulder Pain / Q000601:surgery*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016896:Treatment Outcome