North Carolina Orthopaedic Clinic is pleased to offer treatment for SLAP tears to patients in Durham, North Carolina, and nearby communities. Your shoulder joint is surrounded by a ring of cartilage (the labrum) that helps keep the joint in place. A SLAP tear—short for “superior labral tear from anterior to posterior”—occurs when the top portion of the labrum is injured from front to back, whether by sudden trauma or repeated use. This is the spot where the biceps tendon meets the labrum, so that tendon may also be injured.
SLAP Tear Symptoms
If you have a SLAP tear, you may experience the following symptoms:
- Pain
- Weakness
- Limited range of motion
- A feeling of instability
- A popping, grinding, catching, or locking sensation
SLAP tear pain can worsen when you hold your shoulder in certain positions, move it in certain directions, or try to lift objects overhead.
SLAP Tear Treatment
At North Carolina Orthopaedic Clinic, we follow a patient-centered approach to treatment, and we often recommend that patients with SLAP tears attempt to relieve their symptoms using conservative methods rather than resorting to surgery. Anti-inflammatory medications may be able to reduce pain and swelling, and physical therapy can strengthen your shoulder muscles, increase your range of motion, and prevent further injuries. If conservative methods don’t provide sufficient relief, we can also perform surgery to repair a SLAP tear.
Meet With an Orthopedic Specialist
If you’re concerned that you may have a SLAP tear, contact North Carolina Orthopaedic Clinic today to schedule an appointment at our office in Durham, NC. We’ll be happy to arrange a consultation at a date and time that fits into your schedule.