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Anterior anchor placement may lead to improved outcomes for type II SLAP lesions
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Results showed no association between inferior outcomes and anchor placement anterior to the biceps tendon in patients with type II superior labrum anterior posterior lesions.
William Arroyo, MD, and colleagues reviewed demographic, preoperative and operative variables, including anchor positions, in 49 active-duty service members who underwent arthroscopic repair of type II superior labrum anterior and posterior (SLAP) lesions and evaluated these factors for association with outcomes. Primary outcomes of interest included total failure rate, anchor position and return to military function.
Results showed patents had an average self-reported pain score of 2.6 at final follow-up and 22% of patients underwent subsequent subpectoral biceps tenodesis. Researchers found 82% of patients returned to military function, while 18% of patients were classified as clinical failures and received medical discharge for significant, rate-limiting, shoulder pain postoperatively.
Although traumatic injury and age were not significant predictors of clinical or overall failure, according to results, age was a significant predictor of surgical failure. Compared to patients with only posterior based anchors, researchers noted no increased risk of clinical or surgical failure among patients with anchor position anterior to the biceps attachment. Researchers also found no association between the total number of suture anchors and failure rate.
“Anchor placement either anterior or posterior to the biceps tendon has no significant association with inferior outcomes after SLAP repairs,” Arroyo told Healio.com/Orthopedics. “Even [though] the failure rate for SLAP repair is 20% to 25% (as described in the literature), it can be expected that over 85% of patients will return to activity after a biceps tenodesis as the result of a failed SLAP repair.” – by Casey Tingle
Disclosures: Arroyo reports no relevant financial disclosures. Please see the full study for a list of all other authors’ relevant financial disclosures.
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