A SLAP tear (or SLAP lesion) is an injury to the labrum of the shoulder, which is the ring of cartilage that surrounds the sockets of the shoulder joint. SLAP stands for “superior labral tear from anterior to posterior.”
Patients who participate in sports involving repetitive overhead activities, such as weightlifting, football, baseball, softball and swimming, can experience labrum tears. Other labrum tears can be caused by an acute trauma, like a car accident, shoulder dislocation, falling onto an outstretched arm or forceful pulling on the arm.
Symptoms of a SLAP Tear/Labrum Tear Include:
- Pain with lifting overhead
- Decrease in shoulder strength
- A feeling that the shoulder can slip out of the joint
- Pain with holding or moving the shoulder in certain positions
- Feeling of having a “dead arm”
SLAP Tear Gallery
To see all the stages of SLAP repair surgery, please visit our shoulder arthroscopy gallery.
If you think you might be suffering from SLAP tear, contact Dr. Millstein today to learn about treatment options.
