SLAP Tear/Biceps Injury

 

Mechanism/Injury:              

Traumatic Injury- commonly arm forced into throwing position

Wrenching injury to shoulder- ‘dog pulled on lead’ ‘fell and grabbed rail’                                

                                               

Symptoms:                           

Mixed presentation of symptoms

Subjective weakness of shoulder

Pain down into upper arm on raising arm forwards or sideways

Pain on rotation of arm- reaching for seat belt, arm in to sleeve

Pain on lying on arm in bed, disturbed sleep

Painful clicking or clunking of shoulder

 

Investigations:                     

X-Ray

MRI Arthrogram scan-injection of dye into shoulder before scan

 

Treatment options:             

Pain killers

Physiotherapy

Arthroscopic/Key hole surgery (see SLAP Repair or Biceps Tenodesis)