SLAP tear

Case contributed by Sameh Saied Ali
Diagnosis certain

Presentation

Non-traumatic persistent shoulder pain and failed physiotherapy

Patient Data

Age: 50 years
Gender: Female
mri

Intermediate T2 signal cleft extends from the undersurface of the superior glenoid labrum and into the long head of biceps insertion, suggestive of a SLAP tear.  

Acromioclavicular arthropathy and distal supraspinatus tendinopathy.

Mild distension with fluid of the SASD bursa.

Small amount of fluid in the superior subscapularis recess.

Case Discussion

A superior labral anterior to posterior tear (SLAP), can be distinguished from a sub-labral sulcus as the fluid cleft will be perpendicular to the normal contour of the attachment, sometimes extending into the LHB tendon itself.  

The finding of a SLAP tear was confirmed surgically.  

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