The Injured Shoulder in High-Level Male Gymnasts, Part 1: Epidemiology and Pathoanatomy of Surgically Treated Lesions

Background: Weightbearing and traction-suspension movements with the upper limbs put considerable demands upon the shoulder region of high-level gymnasts. The diagnosis of instability in these gymnasts may be difficult because voluntary inferior shoulder subluxation is part of their training and is needed to perform some acrobatic figures. Purpose: To (1) assess the epidemiology of shoulder lesions requiring surgery, (2) describe the types of injuries and assess which maneuvers and equipment put the gymnast most at risk, and (3) present a pathoanatomic classification of the injured shoulder in high-level male gymnasts. Study Design: Case series; Level of evidence, 4. Methods: Over a 20-year period (1994-2014), 26 high-level male gymnasts (30 shoulders; mean age, 22 years; range, 16-33 years) were referred to our surgical center for shoulder pain or instability. Four gymnasts underwent surgery on both shoulders. All shoulders were evaluated clinically, radiologically, and arthroscopically. An independent observer evaluated the circumstances in which these lesions occurred, including the apparatus used and the maneuvers performed. Results: The mean duration of symptoms before surgery was 8 months (range, 6-24 months). Eighteen injured shoulders (60%) had chronic overuse injuries. In 27 shoulders (90%), the mechanism of injury was traction of the arm in forced flexion-rotation while using suspension equipment with locked hands on the bars or the rings. In the remaining 3 shoulders, the traumatic position was one of an isometric muscle contraction against gravity, sustained while performing strength-and-hold positions on the rings. Based on the main presenting symptoms (pain and/or instability) and main anatomic lesions found during arthroscopy, the injured gymnasts’ shoulders were classified into 2 categories: painful shoulders (n = 13) with no clinical, radiological, or arthroscopic findings of instability (mainly superior cuff and biceps anchor lesions) and unstable shoulders (n = 17) with isolated inferior capsule labral tears or mixed lesions (tendinous and capsulolabral). Some gymnasts with inferior labral tears had no recall of having suffered a dislocation or subluxation. Conclusion: The majority of injuries requiring surgery in this population occurred during traction in forced flexion-rotation using suspension equipment. Injured shoulders were classified as either painful or unstable shoulders.

ADOLESCENT POSTERIOR-SUPERIOR GLENOID LABRAL PATHOLOGY: DOES INVOLVEMENT OF THE BICEPS ANCHOR MAKE A DIFFERENCE?

Background: Adolescent athletes are at risk to sustain an injury to the posterior and superior labrum of the glenoid. Limited information is available regarding the outcomes of surgical intervention in this specific age cohort. Purpose: To compare those patients with pure posterior pathology and those with involvement of the biceps anchor (superior labrum anterior-posterior tears - SLAP) to determine risks for failure in the surgical management. Methods: A retrospective review was performed on all patients under the age of 19 years over an eight year period to identify those treated for superior and posterior labral pathology, followed by chart review, radiographic review and arthroscopic findings. Demographics and other variables were recorded, including: etiology (traumatic versus atraumatic), activity/sports (overhead versus non-overhead), involvement of the biceps anchor – crossing the 12 o’clock position (Posterior vs SLAP), associated pathologies, outcome scores (SANE – Self Assessment Numerical Evaluation versus PASS – Pediatric Adolescent Shoulder Score), and complications. Results: 48 patients (30 males, 18 females) with a mean age at surgery of 16.5 years (range 13.5 to 19) were identified that met criteria with a mean follow-up of 4.1 years (range 1.3 to 6.9). Nineteen subjects had SLAP tears, and 29 subjects had posterior tears. All but 2 regularly participated in sports at the time of their injury; of the athletes, 26 (56.5%) played an overhead sport and 20 (43.5%) played a non-overhead sport. The etiology of the injury was traumatic in 25 cases (52.1%), and atraumatic in 23 cases (47.9%). Outcome scores were not significantly different between etiology or type of sports played; but, the mean PASS score in the SLAP group was 88.7, compared to 76.2 in the posterior group (p=0.005) at final assessment. Only 1 SLAP patient failed management (5.3%) compared to 5 patients in the posterior only cohort (17.2%). Conclusion: SLAP tears have better outcomes and lower failure rates than posterior only tears in the adolescent population. Posterior-superior labral tears can occur in all sport types with multiple etiologies, but the only factor that appears to play a role in ultimate outcome is whether or not the tear crosses under the biceps anchor to the anterior side.

Adolescent Posterior-Superior Glenoid Labral Pathology: Does Involvement of the Biceps Anchor Make a Difference?

Background: Adolescent athletes are at risk of sustaining an injury to the posterior and superior labrum of the glenoid. Limited information is available regarding the outcomes of surgical intervention in this specific age cohort. Purpose: To compare those patients with pure posterior pathology and those with posterior labral tears that involve the biceps anchor (superior labrum anterior-posterior [SLAP] tears) to determine risks for failure in the surgical management. Study Design: Cohort study; Level of evidence, 3. Methods: A retrospective review was performed on all patients under the age of 19 years over an 8-year period to identify those treated for superior and posterior labral pathology, followed by chart review, radiographic review, and arthroscopic findings. Patient characteristics and other variables were recorded, including cause (traumatic vs atraumatic), activity/sports (overhead vs nonoverhead), involvement of the biceps anchor—crossing the 12-o’clock position (posterior vs SLAP), associated pathologies, outcome scores (Single Assessment Numerical Evaluation [SANE] and Pediatric/Adolescent Shoulder Survey [PASS] scores), and complications. Results: Forty-eight patients (30 boys, 18 girls) with a mean age at surgery of 16.5 years (range, 13.5-19 years) were identified who met criteria, with a mean follow-up of 4.1 years (range, 1.3-6.9 years). Nineteen patients had SLAP tears and 29 patients had posterior tears. All but 2 regularly participated in sports at the time of their injury; of the athletes, 26 (56.5%) played an overhead sport and 20 (43.5%) played a nonoverhead sport. The cause of the injury was traumatic in 25 cases (52.1%) and atraumatic in 23 cases (47.9%). Outcome scores were not significantly different between cause or type of sports played; SANE scores were not significantly different by tear type (mean SLAP score, 88.4 compared with mean posterior score, 80.9; P = .124); but the mean PASS score in the SLAP group was 88.7, compared with 76.2 in the posterior group ( P = .005) at final assessment. Only 1 SLAP patient had failed management (5.3%) compared with 5 patients in the posterior-only cohort (17.2%). Conclusion: Posterior SLAP tears have better outcomes and lower failure rates than posterior-only tears in the adolescent population. Posterior-superior labral tears can occur in all sports types with multiple causes, but the only factor that appears to play a role in ultimate outcome is whether the tear crosses under the biceps anchor to the anterior side.

Treatment of Type Two Slap Lesion With Anatomic Suture Anchor Repair Without Biceps Tenotomy Or Tenodesis

Background: Poor results after repair of type 2 SLAP tears are relatively common and some have reported better results after biceps tenodesis or tenotomy than repair. In addition, some believe that the long head of the biceps is expendable. Therefore, many now favor biceps tenotomy or tenodesis over biceps anchor repair either in all patients or in older patients, reserving SLAP lesion repair only for young athletes. Hypothesis: We hypothesized that repair of the biceps anchor of the labrum would be effective in all patients regardless of age provided that care was taken not to overtighten the labrum and that rotator cuff pain as the primary pain generator had been ruled out. Methods: All patients with type 2 SLAP lesion repair by the senior author since he began repairing them with suture anchors were prospectively evaluated. Patients with more than one other concomitant procedure, simultaneous rotator cuff repair or worker’s compensation status were excluded. Results: 77% of patients were available for minimum two year followup. No patient had subsequent surgery or manipulation under anesthesis as a result of their SLAP repair. Standardized shoulder test score increased by 4 points. Mean SANE score decreased from 53 pre-op to 14 post-op. Results were the same in those over versus under 40 years of age. Conclusion: Anatomic repair of Type 2 SLAP lesions at the biceps anchor without biceps tenodesis or tenotomy can produce good results in patients of all ages.

Distinguishing Superior Labral Tears from Normal Meniscoid Insertions with Magnetic Resonance Imaging

ABSTRACT Objective To improve the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and magnetic resonance arthrogram (MRA) interpretation of a ‘meniscoid-type’ superior labrum vs a superior labral tear by evaluation of a simple sign. Materials and methods Retrospective analysis of our institution's shoulder MRIs and MRAs yielded 144 patients thought to have a superior labral tear. Fifty-five patients had arthroscopy. Analysis of the orthopaedic database for superior labral repair surgeries performed in the same time frame yielded seven additional patients without prospective MRI/MRA diagnosis of superior labral tear. Results Two of 17 (11.8%) patients thought to have superior labral tears by MRI or MRA were found to have no labral pathology at arthroscopy. Both cases failed to have extension of high signal intensity behind the biceps anchor to the most posterior oblique coronal image. Nine of 38 (23.7%) patients thought to have superior labral tears by MRI or MRA were found to have no labral pathology at arthroscopy, but a meniscoid-type superior labrum. Four of seven patients known to have superior labral tears by arthroscopy but incorrectly diagnosed as meniscoid-type superior labrum on MRI or MRA, were retrospectively found to have extension of high signal intensity in the superior labrum to the most posterior image. Conclusion Signal abnormality that continues through the remainder of the superior labrum posterior to the biceps anchor indicates a superior labral tear. Absence of this sign in the setting of more anterior high signal under the labrum may indicate a meniscoid variant. Manvar AM, Bhalani SM, Garrigues GE, Major NM. Distinguishing Superior Labral Tears from Normal Meniscoid Insertions with Magnetic Resonance Imaging. The Duke Orthop J 2012;2(1):44-49.