Jump to content
We need you! See something you could improve? Make an edit and help improve WikSM for everyone.

Glenoid Labrum Lesion

From WikiSM

Other Names

  • Labral Tear
  • Glenoid Labral Tear
  • Superior Labrum Anterior Posterior (SLAP) tear

Background

  • This page currently refers to all lesions of the Glenoid Labrum
  • Including:
    • Superior Labrum Anterior Posterior (SLAP) tear
    • Andrew's Lesion
    • Anterior Labral Tear
    • Posterior Labral Tear
    • Antero-inferior Labral Tear
    • Postero-inferior Labral Tear
    • Inferior Tear

History

  • Needs to be updated

Epidemiology

  • SLAP Tear
    • Accounts for 80-90% of labral pathology (need citation)
  • Anterior-inferior (Bankart)
    • Most common (need citation, conflicts with statement about SLAP tear)
  • Posterior
    • Rare, seen on only 2-6% of arthroscopies[1]

Introduction

Generic illustration of a glenoid labrum tear
Sagittal view of the labrum showing the classic clock description. A, acromion; BT, biceps tendon; C, coracoid process; G, glenoid; IGHLC, inferior glenohumeral ligament complex; IS, infraspinatus muscle; SGHL, superior glenohumeral ligament; SS, supraspinatus muscle; T, teres minor.[2]
Diagram shows the clock-like division of the glenoid rim and its four sectors: inferior, posterior, anterior and superior[3]
SLAP Tear. Demonstration of the biceps anchor peel-back mechanism. (A) Coronal and axial view of the resting position of the biceps-labral complex. (B) Coronal and axial view of the biceps-labral complex in an abducted externally rotated position, showing peel-back mechanism as the biceps vector rotates posteriorly[4]
a) Type-V SLAP tear: SLAP tear combined with a Bankart lesion. b) Type-VI SLAP tear: SLAP tear combined with an unstable flap tear of the labrum. c) Type-VII SLAP tear: SLAP tear with continuation to the middle glenohumeral ligament origin[5]

General

  • Pathology can an be divided into 6 glenoid sectors per Synder[6]

Anatomy of the Glenoid Labrum

  • Fibrocartilage of the shoulder joint
  • Runs along the outer rim of the glenoid
  • Provides up to 10% of glenohumeral stability[7]
  • Other structures

SLAP Tear

General

  • SLAP: Superior Labrum from Anterior to Posterior
  • Accounts for 80-90% of labral pathology
  • Can be challenging to diagnosis due to concomitant shoulder pathology
    • 88% of patients with arthroscopy confirmed SLAP tear have other intra-articular lesions[8]

Pathophysiology

  • Due to tightness of posterior-inferior glenohumeral ligament, shifting GH contact posteriorly, increases shearing forces

Etiology

  • Can be acute or insidious
  • Occurs in throwing and overhead athletes in dominant shoulder

Associated Injuries

Andrew's Lesion

General

  • Pure superior labrum detachment without extension into biceps footplate
  • Mainly found in throwers

Anterior Labral Tear

General

  • Pure anterior labral tear
  • Associated with middle glenohumeral ligament tear
  • Rare
  • Location: Sector 2

Posterior Labral Tear

General

  • Rare, less common than anterior tear
  • Sector 6 labral injury

Pathophysiology

  • Due to posteriorly directed force
  • Sometimes referred to as a reverse bankart

Etiology

  • Weightlifting (bench press), football linemen (blocking), swimmers, gymnasts, wrestlers

Associated Injuries

  • Kim Lesion: Incomplete avulsion of posterior inferior labrum

Antero-inferior Labral Tear

Associated injuries

Postero-inferior Labral Tear

General

  • Sectors 5, 6

Inferior Labral Tear

General

  • Sector 4 (between 4 o'clock and 8 o'clock position)
  • Poorly described in the literature with case reports and series only[9]

Pathophysiology

  • In case series, dislocation does not appear to be associated
  • Suspect repetitive microtrauma[10]

Etiology

  • Unclear in limited case series
  • Patients endorse pain, not instability

Associated Injuries

Risk Factors

General

Posterior

  • Weightlifting (bench press)
  • Football lineman (blocking)
  • Swimmers, gymnasts, wrestlers

SLAP

  • Glenohumeral Internal Rotation Deficit

Differential Diagnosis

Differential Diagnosis Shoulder Pain

Clinical Features

Clinical demonstration of the anterior apprehension test[11]
(A) Position to assess a sulcus sign in a patient with suspected MDI. (B) Patient demonstrating a positive sulcus sign as noted by the amount of inferior translation of the humerus within the glenoid.[12]
Clinical demonstration of Speed's test[13]

History

  • Patients will typically report pain, instability
  • May have a history of shoulder injury or dislocation
  • Pain will be vague, non specific
  • May endorse clicking or popping
  • Throwers may endorse a loss of throwing velocity, ball control or changes to mechanics

Physical: Physical Exam Shoulder

  • Important to perform a thorough shoulder examination
  • The labrum in general is best tested with provocative testing

Special Tests

  • Jobe Relocation Test: Supine with abducted, externally rotated shoulder and a posterior force
  • Internal Rotation Resistance Test: Arm abducted to 90°, internally and externally rotate against resistance
  • Crank Test: Hyper-abducted shoulder, axial load on humerus with internal and external rotation
  • OBriens Test: Shoulder flex to 90°, upward force against resistance in supination and pronation
  • Apprehension Test: Flexes elbow to 90°, abduct shoulder to 90°, slowly externally rotate shoulder
  • Load and Shift Test: Arm slightly abducted, apply anterior-posterior force to humeral head assessing translation
  • Clunk Test: fully abduct arm then apply anterior force
  • Anterior Slide Test: Place patients hand on hip, apply anterior force along axis of humerus
  • Mimori Test: Arm abducted, elbow flexed to 90°, supinate and pronate forearm

Posterior-inferior

  • Kim Test: Arm abducted to 90°, apply axial load and elevate arm cranial and anterior
  • Jerk Test: Arm abducted to 90°, internally rotated with axial load and arm is abducted anteriorly in same plane

SLAP Lesion (not specific)

Inferior

Posterior

Biceps

  • Speeds Test: Shoulder flex to 90°, upward force against resistance in supination and pronation
  • Biceps Load Test: Resisted flexion with arm abducted to 90°, maximal external rotation
  • Biceps Load Test II: Resisted flexion with arm abducted to 120°, maximal external rotation
  • Yergasons Test: Elbow flexed to 90°, forearm pronated, attempt to supinate against resistance

Evaluation

Load video
YouTube
SLAP tear on MRI
Coronal T2-weighted fat-suppressed MRI shows superior labral tear and overlying paralabral cyst (arrow) and a low grade intrasubstance tear of supraspinatus tendon (arrowhead)[14]

Radiographs

  • Standard Radiographs Shoulder
  • Often normal
  • Useful for excluding other causes of shoulder pain
  • Posterior: may see glenoid retroversion, posterior glenoid erosion

CT

  • Arthrography[15]
    • Sensitivity: 94-98%
    • Specificity: 73-88%
  • Advantage over MRI in evaluating bone

MRI

  • Gold standard
  • Arthrography
    • Sensitivity: 82-89%
    • Specificity: 91-98%
    • Arthrography may not be necessary if magnet is 3T or larger[16]
  • SLAP: T2 signal intensity between superior labrum, lateral to glenoid rim, posterior to biceps

Classification

SLAP Tear

  • Type I: degenerative lesion, fraying of the labrum
  • Type II: Labrum, long head of biceps torn
  • Type III: Bucket handle detachment of superior aspect
  • Type IV: Type III lesion extending into the biceps brachii
  • Type V: Type II tear with anterior shoulder instability
  • Type VI: Large labral flap without detachment of biceps
  • Type VII: Type II tear with affected middle, inferior glenohumeral ligament tear
  • Type VIII: Type II tear involving cartilage adjacent to biceps footplate

Management

Nonoperative

  • Posterior
  • SLAP
    • First line treatment
    • Address GIRD if present, stretch posterior capsule
    • Activity Modification
    • NSAIDS
    • Physical Therapy
    • Similar outcomes to surgical management for pain, function and QOL. However, return to overhead sports was inferior[17]

Operative

  • Posterior
    • Indications: Failure of conservative management
    • Technique: Posterior labral repair, capsulorrphaphy
  • SLAP
    • Indications: Failure of conservative management
    • Technique: arthroscopic debridement, possible repair of labrum, biceps tenotomy or tenodesis

Rehab and Return to Play

Rehabilitation

  • SLAP Lesion[18]
    • Weeks 1-4: passive and active flexion, avoid extremes of motion and biceps exercises
    • Weeks 4-6: progress to active ROM, isometric resistance training
    • Week 6-12: Functional exercise, light strength training
    • Weeks 12+: Advance strength and ROM, sport specific activities

Return to Play

  • SLAP: Typically around 6 months

Prognosis and Complications

Prognosis

  • Needs to be updated

Complications

See Also

Internal

External

References

  1. ↑ Bisson LJ. Thermal capsulorrhaphy for isolated posterior instability of the glenohumeral joint without labral detachment. Am J Sports Med. 2005;33:1898–904.
  2. ↑ Chloros, George D., et al. "Imaging of glenoid labrum lesions." Clinics in sports medicine 32.3 (2013): 361-390.
  3. ↑ Jarraya, Mohamed, et al. "MR-arthrography and CT-arthrography in sports-related glenolabral injuries: a matched descriptive illustration." Insights into Imaging 7 (2016): 167-177.
  4. ↑ Frangiamore, Salvatore, Jacob Maier, and Mark Schickendantz. "SLAP tears in the throwing shoulder: a review of the current concepts in management and outcomes." Operative Techniques in Sports Medicine 29.1 (2021): 150798.
  5. ↑ Familiari, Filippo, et al. "SLAP lesions: current controversies." EFORT open reviews 4.1 (2019): 25-32.
  6. ↑ Snyder, Stephen J., et al. "SLAP lesions of the shoulder." Arthroscopy 6.4 (1990): 274-279.
  7. ↑ Halder AM, Kuhl SG, Zobitz ME, et al. Effects of the glenoid labrum and glenohumeral abduction on stability of the shoulder joint through concavity-compression: an in vitro study. J Bone Joint Surg Am 2001;83:1062–9.
  8. ↑ Kim TK, Queale WS, Cosgarea AJ, McFarland EG. Clinical features of the different types of SLAP lesions: an analysis of one hundred and thirty-nine cases. J Bone Joint Surg Am 2003;85-A:66–71.
  9. ↑ Irion V, Cheah M, Jones GL, Bishop JY. The isolated inferior glenohumeral labrum injury, anterior to posterior (the ILAP): A case series. Int J Shoulder Surg. 2015;9(1):13–19. doi:10.4103/0973-6042.150218
  10. ↑ Moon, Chang-Yun, Jong-Hun Ji, and Sung-Jae Kim. "Multidirectional instability accompanying an inferior labral cyst." Clinics in orthopedic surgery 2.2 (2010): 121-124.
  11. ↑ King, Joseph J., and Thomas W. Wright. "Physical examination of the shoulder." The Journal of hand surgery 39.10 (2014): 2103-2112.
  12. ↑ Wilk, Kevin E., and Leonard C. Macrina. "Nonoperative and postoperative rehabilitation for glenohumeral instability." Clinics in sports medicine 32.4 (2013): 865-914.
  13. ↑ Gill HS, El Rassi G, Bahk MS, Castillo RC, McFarland EG. Physical Examination for Partial Tears of the Biceps Tendon. The American Journal of Sports Medicine. 2007;35(8):1334-1340.
  14. ↑ Murakami, Akira M., et al. "The epidemiology of MRI detected shoulder injuries in athletes participating in the Rio de Janeiro 2016 Summer Olympics." BMC musculoskeletal disorders 19.1 (2018): 1-7.
  15. ↑ Chloros, George D., et al. "Imaging of glenoid labrum lesions." Clinics in sports medicine 32.3 (2013): 361-390.
  16. ↑ Major, Nancy M., et al. "Evaluation of the glenoid labrum with 3-T MRI: is intraarticular contrast necessary?." American Journal of Roentgenology 196.5 (2011): 1139-1144.
  17. ↑ Edwards, Sara L., et al. "Nonoperative treatment of superior labrum anterior posterior tears: improvements in pain, function, and quality of life." The American journal of sports medicine 38.7 (2010): 1456-1461.
  18. ↑ https://www.orthobullets.com/shoulder-and-elbow/3053/slap-lesion
Created by:
John Kiel on 11 March 2020 13:19:45
Authors:
Last edited:
9 March 2026 12:54:51
Categories:
Retrieved from "https://wikism.org/w/index.php?title=Glenoid_Labrum_Lesion&oldid=41320"