Purpose: Presumably, the technique of SLAP refixation has significant influence on outcome. This study analyzes and compares functional outcome and return to sports after arthroscopic suture anchor (SA) and arthroscopic transglenoidal suture (TS) repair of isolated SLAP-2 lesions.
Methods: Twenty-four competitive amateur athletes constituted the two treatment groups of this retrospective matched-pair analysis. In the SA group (n = 12), the mean age was 39.1 years (±12.0) and the mean follow-up period was 4.0 years (±0.6). In the TS group (n = 12), the mean age was 33.8 years (±12.0) and the mean follow-up period was 3.7 years (±0.9). The minimum follow-up period was 2.0 years. Primary outcome measures were the absolute constant-score (CS), the subjective shoulder value (SSV) as well as the ability to return to sports.
Results: The mean CS in the SA group was 91.6 (±5.5) compared to 81.3 (±15.5) in the TS group (p = 0.04). The mean SSV after SA repair was 96.9 (±4.6) compared to 80.0 (±20.8) after TS repair (p = 0.01). Both scores showed significantly higher standard deviations within the TS group (p < 0.05). Twelve of eighteen patients (67 %) were able to return to their overhead sports without restrictions (5/9 in the SA group and 7/9 in the TS group; p > 0.05). Fourteen of twenty-four patients (58 %) achieved their preinjury sports levels (8/12 in the SA group and 6/12 in the TS group; p > 0.05).
Conclusions: Superior objective and subjective shoulder function was obtained following arthroscopic SA repair compared to arthroscopic TS repair of isolated SLAP-2 lesions. In addition, results of SA repair were more predictable. However, nearly half of the athletes did not achieve full return to sports regardless of the applied technique of refixation.