Full Answer
What is the recovery time for a SLAP tear repair?
The steps of a SLAP repair are:
- The SLAP tear is identified and excess/damaged tissue is removed.
- A small hole is drilled into the bone where the labrum has torn away from the socket.
- An anchor is placed into this hole; attached to the anchor is a strong suture.
- The suture is used to tie the torn labrum snuggly against the bone.
Should I have surgery for my SLAP tear?
Your healthcare provider will weigh the following factors when considering surgery for SLAP tears:
- The tear’s classification. Tears are classified based on location and if the tear affects other areas of your shoulder.
- Your age. Healthcare providers take your age into account when considering treatments, which can include cleaning up frayed tissue rather than bicep tenodesis surgery.
- Your typical activities.
- Previous non-surgical treatment.
What is the recovery time for SLAP tear surgery?
Treatment often includes:
- Rest using a sling or brace
- Physical therapy
- Cortisone injections
What to expect after SLAP tear surgery?
What to Expect After SLAP Tear Surgery? Here’s what to expect after you complete the surgery in the hospital: Sealing the incisions up with sutures, and placing a dressing on the shoulder. Your arm will stay in a sling to prevent it from being immobilized. When you get home after surgery:
Can a SLAP tear heal on its own?
They often occur as a result of a jarring motion of the arm. Unfortunately, SLAP tears do not heal on their own and usually require surgery to allow them to heal properly.
How long does it take to recover from a SLAP tear surgery?
Recovery/Time off Work There is a large amount of variability in the time it takes to fully recover from this procedure. It is usually estimated that it will take at least 4-6 months to feel as though you have completely regained the use of your arm. Some cases may take as long as 9-12 months to make a full recovery.
Can a SLAP tear heal with physical therapy?
Treatments. Many people with SLAP tears get better with a period of rest and rehabilitation. A physical therapy program can strengthen the muscles surrounding the shoulder and improve control of the shoulder joint.
How does the surgeon repair a SLAP tear?
The surgical technique most commonly used for treating a SLAP injury is arthroscopy. During arthroscopy, your surgeon inserts a small camera, called an arthroscope, into your shoulder joint. The camera displays pictures on a video monitor, and your surgeon uses these images to guide miniature surgical instruments.
What happens if a SLAP tear goes untreated?
Yes, if a SLAP tear is left untreated, some common and long-term problems could occur, including: shoulder dislocation or instability, reduced range of motion, chronic pain, and adhesive capsulitis (frozen shoulder). Therefore, it's best to pay a visit to O'Grady Orthopaedics the minute you suspect a problem.
How serious is a SLAP tear?
The tears can be caused by injury or overuse and make it painful or difficult for you to move your shoulder and arm. Left untreated, these tears can cause chronic pain, limit how much you can use your arm and shoulder and lead to more serious shoulder problems.
Will cortisone shot Help torn shoulder labrum?
SLAP tears are usually treated with rest, anti-inflammatory medications and, in some cases, an in-office cortisone injection. This is followed by gradual stretching of the shoulder, initially with a physical therapist, for six weeks to two months.
Is a SLAP tear a rotator cuff tear?
Rotator cuff tendon tear causes & symptoms Rotator cuff tears have very similar symptoms to other shoulder injuries, such as SLAP tears and are best diagnosed by an orthopedic specialist. This is a tear that occurs at the front of the upper arm where the biceps tendon connects to the shoulder in the labrum.
Are SLAP tears painful?
SLAP tears can cause pain and range-of-motion problems in the shoulder labrum, the biceps tendon or both. Common symptoms of a SLAP tear include: dull or aching pain in the shoulder, especially while lifting over the head. a painful feeling of clicking, popping or grinding in the shoulder during movement.
Is shoulder labrum surgery a major surgery?
Labrum repair is major surgery with serious risks and potential complications. You may have less invasive treatment options.
How long do you wear a sling after labrum surgery?
Patients wear the sling for 4 to 6 weeks but remove it for bathing and dressing. Use of the sling is important to maximize labrum healing. The length of time to wear the sling largely depends on the size of the tear seen during surgery.
How long is recovery from shoulder labrum surgery?
Once your sling comes off, you will need to do flexibility exercises in order to restore strength and mobility to your shoulder. Overall, you can usually expect your torn labrum shoulder surgery recovery time to be between three and six months.
How long does pain last after SLAP repair?
Background. One of the currently used surgical techniques in isolated type II SLAP lesions is arthroscopic SLAP repair. Postoperatively, patients tend to suffer from a prolonged period of pain and are restricted in their sports activities for at least 6 months.
IS SLAP tear surgery major surgery?
Some mild tears can be treated conservatively, with rest, exercise, ice packs and over-the-counter pain medication. If your tear does not respond at this point, the good news is most SLAP tears can be repaired with an arthroscopic procedure. It is a minimally invasive procedure done on an outpatient basis.
IS SLAP tear surgery Major?
Injuries to the labrum can cause deep joint pain, joint looseness and instability, and changes in range of motion. Popping, clicking, catching or locking of the joint can also occur. Labrum repair is major surgery with serious risks and potential complications.
How long is a labrum repair surgery recovery?
Once your sling comes off, you will need to do flexibility exercises in order to restore strength and mobility to your shoulder. Overall, you can usually expect your torn labrum shoulder surgery recovery time to be between three and six months.
What is a slap tear?
1 . A SLAP debridement simply removes any excess or damaged tissue that causes symptoms of catching and pain in the shoulder. In some people, the damage is minimal, and removing the torn tissue may be adequate to address the cause of the pain. ...
When is a slap repair surgery?
on July 12, 2020. A SLAP repair, a surgical procedure performed for treatment of a SLAP tear, is considered for patients who do not improve following nonsurgical treatments. In patients with a SLAP tear that's causing pain, surgical treatment may be an option. Alvis Upitis / Getty Images.
How to repair labrum tear?
In some people, the damage is minimal, and removing the torn tissue may be adequate to address the cause of the pain. A SLAP repair is performed to surgically repair the tear within the labrum. Usually, a SLAP repair is performed using sutures to reattach the damaged labrum to the bone of the shoulder socket.
How long does it take to recover from a slap repair?
Most often, a period of time of restricted motion is maintained for about six weeks following a SLAP repair.
How long does it take to recover from shoulder surgery?
Once healed, patients enter the second phase of rehabilitation and can begin more motion at about six weeks. Physical therapy continues to help maintain motion and regain the strength of the shoulder. The third phase of rehabilitation involves more active strengthening of the muscles that surround the shoulder joint.
Can a slap repair be done with a shoulder arthroscopic?
Therefore, a SLAP repair may be just a part of the surgery to fix shoulder pain. The steps of a SLAP repair are:
Is bicep tenodesis more reliable than slap repair?
The results of surgery are usually more predictable, as healing of a SLAP repair may not be as reliable.
What is a slap tear?
Surgery is among the treatment options for a superior labrum from anterior to posterior (SLAP) tear, a type of shoulder joint injury. While outcomes are generally good after SLAP tear surgery, most people improve with non-surgical treatments. If you've had a SLAP tear, you will be advised to rest after your injury to allow ...
What to do if shoulder pain persists?
Physical Therapy. Anti-inflammatory Medications. Cortisone Injections. If your symptoms persist despite these treatments, your doctor might recommend that you have minimally invasive arthroscopic surgery, with a small incision in your shoulder.
What are the risks of arthroscopic shoulder surgery?
Risks of surgical treatment include the usual risks of arthroscopic shoulder surgery . These may include infection, stiffness, and/or shoulder weakness. Your recovery from surgery can be affected if you also have had other shoulder injuries in addition to the SLAP tear. 1 .
Can a slap tear be treated?
SLAP tears are a common cause of shoulder discomfort, especially for athletes who have frequent overhead movements. Often, a SLAP tear can be managed with nonsurgical treatments, especially if you can rest the joint long enough for it to heal.
Can you recover from a slap tear?
There are several different surgical procedures that can help you recover after a SLAP tear . Since SLAP tears often occur in conjunction with other shoulder problems, such as rotator cuff tears or shoulder arthritis, your surgical planning may have to take these factors into account. 1
Can a biceps anchor be used for debridement surgery?
The biceps anchor, which is the portion of the biceps tendon within the shoulder joint, must be stable for a debridement surgery to be effective. If the biceps anchor is not secure, debridement of the torn portion of the labrum is unlikely to alleviate symptoms.
How to repair a slap tear in shoulder?
They insert a small camera, or an arthroscope, into the joint. The surgeon then uses miniature surgical tools to repair the SLAP tear.
What is a slap tear?
Shoulder SLAP tear. A SLAP tear is a type of shoulder injury. It affects the labrum, which is the cartilage on the rim of the shoulder’s socket. The labrum is a rubber-like tissue that holds the ball of the shoulder joint in place. SLAP stands for “superior labrum anterior and posterior.”. The tear occurs in the top (superior) ...
What are the symptoms of a slap tear?
SLAP tear symptoms include: shoulder popping, locking, or grinding. pain with certain movements or positions. pain when lifting things, especially over your head. reduced range of motion.
How to diagnose a slap tear?
SLAP tear diagnosis. A doctor will use several methods to diagnose your injury. These might include: Medical history. This helps a doctor understand what type of activity might have caused your injury. Physical examination. A doctor will observe your shoulder and its range of motion.
How many types of slap injuries are there?
SLAP injuries are classified into 10 different types. Each injury is categorized based on how the tear forms. Originally, SLAP tears were classified into types 1 through 4. The other types, known as extended SLAP tears, were added over time. The descriptions of these types vary slightly.
What type of tear is a slap injury?
Type 2 tears are the most common SLAP injuries. Depending on the location of the labral tear, type 2 tears are split into three categories: type 2A (front top) type 2B (back top) type 2C (both the front and back top)
How long does it take for a bicep to heal?
If these treatments don’t work, or if the tear is serious, you’ll likely need surgery. Though recovery time is different for everyone, it usually takes at least 4 to 6 months.
