SLAP Tear Treatment

SLAP Tear Care Near You in New Jersey

If you’re struggling with shoulder pain and weakness, a superior labrum anterior to posterior (SLAP) tear may be to blame. When you need fast access to patient-centered treatment, turn to Interventional Spine & Surgery Group. We provide high-quality non-surgical and surgical SLAP tear treatment at locations near you in central and northern New Jersey. Our medical team specializes in fast, accurate diagnosis and beginning treatment right away, so you don’t have to continue living in pain.

Learn more about SLAP tears, the symptoms that indicate one, the treatment options, and the recovery process.

Key Takeaways

A superior labrum anterior to posterior (SLAP) tear is a type of labral tear that leads to symptoms like persistent shoulder pain, reduced shoulder strength, and clicking or popping noises.
The main causes of SLAP tears are acute injuries, repetitive stress or overuse, and wear and tear from aging.
To diagnose a shoulder labral tear, doctors use the results from a physical exam, diagnostic tests, and imaging scans.
SLAP tear treatment options include rest and activity modification, medications, joint injections, physical therapy, and surgery.
Interventional Spine & Surgery Group provides fast access to SLAP tear treatment for patients in central and northern New Jersey.

What Is a Superior Labrum Anterior to Posterior (SLAP) Tear?

A SLAP tear is a type of labrum tear. The labrum is a ring of cartilage that’s attached to the rim of the shoulder socket, helping to keep the joint in place. This type of tear occurs at the very top of the cartilage where the bicep attaches, going from the front of the joint to the back. It can result in symptoms like:

Sharp, deep shoulder pain
A persistent, dull ache in the shoulder
A clicking or popping noise
A grinding sensation
Reduced shoulder strength
Difficulty reaching overhead

If you have symptoms of a SLAP tear, it’s important to seek medical evaluation to determine if a tear is the cause and discuss the next steps.

What Causes SLAP Tears?

A SLAP tear is typically due to one of three main causes, including:

Acute trauma: A sudden injury can cause the labrum to tear. This can be from a direct blow to the shoulder, a fall onto an outstretched arm, or a forceful pull on the arm.
Repetitive overhead movements: Participating in sports, such as tennis, volleyball, or weightlifting, or having a job that requires repetitive overhead movements, places chronic stress on the biceps and labrum tendons. This stress can fray and weaken the tissue over time, leading to tears.
Aging: As people age, especially over 40, the labrum becomes weaker and can tear with minor stress.

Certain risk factors can make you more susceptible to a SLAP tear, including participation in sports with repetitive overhead movements, being over 40, and having joint instability. Having one or more of these risk factors does not necessarily mean you’ll experience a tear, but it can increase your susceptibility.

How Are SLAP Tears Diagnosed?

If you’re dealing with symptoms of a SLAP tear, you’ll need to go through a diagnostic process to confirm or rule out a tear. It typically includes:

Medical history: The doctor will review your medical history, ask about your symptoms, and discuss your daily activities at work or in sports, as well as any previous injuries, conditions, or diagnoses.
Physical exam: To assess your shoulder’s mobility, strength, and stability, the doctor will examine it and look for any visible indicators of a tear, such as bruising or swelling.
Diagnostic tests: To narrow down a SLAP tear diagnosis from other shoulder issues, the doctor may use provocative tests that isolate the labrum and biceps attachment. These include the O’Brien test, the crank test, and the biceps load test, all of which can help suggest whether a tear is the likely cause of the pain.
Imaging scans: Imaging scans are also used to visually confirm a tear. The most common type is called a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) arthrogram, which uses contrast dye and an MRI to highlight tears.

Using the results of the physical exam, diagnostic tests, and imaging, the doctor can confirm whether a SLAP tear is the cause of your pain.

What Are the Treatment Options for SLAP Tears?

Treatment for SLAP tears can be both non-surgical and surgical, but most patients see results from conservative, non-surgical methods. They include:

Rest and activity modification: If you participate in sports or a job that stresses the bicep and labrum, the doctor will often suggest modifying your activity to rest the shoulder. This can mean taking on modified duties at work to avoid overhead reaching and heavy lifting, or pausing sports like tennis, swimming, and weight-lifting.
Medication: Over-the-counter medications, such as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), are often used to decrease pain and inflammation while you heal.
Injections: If conservative methods such as rest and medications don’t provide effective relief, targeted corticosteroid injections in the shoulder can help with pain and inflammation.
Physical therapy: Physical therapy and rehabilitation are crucial to help you restore stability, improve your range of motion, rebuild strength, and prevent re-injury. The therapist will use targeted therapeutic exercises to strengthen the rotator cuff and scapular stabilizers and protect the healing tendon.

If a patient doesn’t experience symptom relief after three to six months of conservative treatments, or if their tear results in significant instability, surgery may be recommended. The procedure is typically done as a minimally invasive procedure using a tool called an arthroscope. It has a camera and a light on it that provides live video guidance that the surgeon uses to visualize the damaged tendon. Depending on the extent of the tear, it may be either trimmed away using debridement or reattached to the bone with anchors. The doctor will discuss all your treatment options before you decide on the best course of action.

What Is Recovery Like After SLAP Tear Treatment?

When you’re recovering from a SLAP tear, the complexity and length of recovery will depend on a few factors, including the severity of the tear and the treatment you receive. Recovery from non-surgical SLAP tear treatment typically takes around three to six months, while recovery after a SLAP surgical repair can take anywhere from six to 12 months. It’s important to follow your doctor’s instructions for treatment, which may include:

Wearing a sling to help protect the joint
Managing pain and inflammation with ice and over-the-counter pain medications
Attending regular physical therapy sessions to rebuild strength and mobility
Slowly resuming daily activities as your healing progresses

It’s essential to carefully follow your care team’s instructions to prevent re-injuring the tendon and irritating the tissue, and to ensure proper healing.

Find SLAP Tear Treatment Near You in New Jersey

Whether you need fast access to treatment for a confirmed SLAP tear or want to get your shoulder symptoms diagnosed with compassionate care, Interventional Spine & Surgery Group is the place to go. We have a multidisciplinary team of orthopedic surgeons, physical therapists, pain management specialists, chiropractors, and other specialists who work together to provide patient-centered care. We can see you now, we care, and we’ll help you get better.

To schedule an appointment at one of our nine convenient locations near you in Central and Northern New Jersey, contact us today.

Orthopedic surgeries, including shoulder arthroscopies for SLAP tears, are performed by Dr. Sean Lager.
Dr. Lager is a board-certified orthopedic surgeon with vast experience in arthroscopic and minimally
invasive procedures. He also has personal experience as an athlete who was injured, and he uses that
experience to fuel high-quality treatments. To schedule an appointment at one of our nine convenient
locations near you in Central and Northern New Jersey, contact us today.

Frequently Asked Questions About SLAP Tears

What is a SLAP tear, and how serious can it be?

A superior labrum anterior to posterior (SLAP) tear is an injury to the ring of cartilage (labrum) in the shoulder socket where the biceps tendon attaches. It can be serious if the tear is severe.

What are the most common causes of a SLAP tear?

The most common causes of a SLAP tear are acute injuries, repetitive stress or overuse, and wear and tear from aging.

What symptoms should make someone seek care for a SLAP tear?

Symptoms that should make someone seek SLAP tear care include persistent shoulder pain, a locking or popping sensation in the joint, or a feeling of instability.

How is a SLAP tear diagnosed?

To diagnose a SLAP tear, doctors use a combination of a medical history, physical exam, diagnostic tests like the O’Brien test, and imaging scans.

Will a SLAP tear heal without surgery?

It depends on the severity of the tear. For minor tears, patients often recover without surgery through rest and physical therapy.

What non-surgical treatments are available for a SLAP tear?

Non-surgical treatments for a SLAP tear include activity modification and rest, medications, joint injections, and physical therapy.

When is surgery recommended for a SLAP tear?

Surgery is recommended for a SLAP tear when the patient hasn’t seen relief from three to six months of conservative treatment, or when the tear causes significant joint instability.

How long does recovery from a SLAP tear usually take?

It depends on factors like the severity of the tear and the type of treatment you receive. However, it generally takes anywhere from three to 12 months.