This retrospective case series reports the long-term outcome of arthroscopic suture anchor repair for isolated type II SLAP lesions. It asks whether functional gains are durable and whether older age or Workers' Compensation status predicts worse results. Fifty-five patients were followed for a mean of 77 months.
When you evaluate a patient with an isolated type II SLAP lesion refractory to conservative care, two red flags should shape your surgical plan: a Workers' Compensation claim and age 40 or older. This is the longest follow-up series available for type II SLAP repair, and it confirms the gains hold up past 6 years, in contrast to debridement alone which deteriorates over time.
The Workers' Compensation effect is the strongest message: 65% versus 95% good/excellent, slower motion recovery, and lower satisfaction. These patients heal the anatomy but often do not achieve the same functional result.
The age signal did not reach significance because the cohort was underpowered, but 6 of 7 poor outcomes were in older patients. This aligns with Level I data (Franceschi) favoring biceps tenotomy over repair in patients over 50. The practical decision framework: for older or Workers' Compensation patients, strongly consider biceps tenodesis or tenotomy rather than anatomic SLAP repair.
This retrospective case series reports the long-term outcome of arthroscopic suture anchor repair for isolated type II SLAP lesions. It asks whether functional gains are durable and whether older age or Workers' Compensation status predicts worse results. Fifty-five patients were followed for a mean of 77 months.
When you evaluate a patient with an isolated type II SLAP lesion refractory to conservative care, two red flags should shape your surgical plan: a Workers' Compensation claim and age 40 or older. This is the longest follow-up series available for type II SLAP repair, and it confirms the gains hold up past 6 years, in contrast to debridement alone which deteriorates over time.
The Workers' Compensation effect is the strongest message: 65% versus 95% good/excellent, slower motion recovery, and lower satisfaction. These patients heal the anatomy but often do not achieve the same functional result.
The age signal did not reach significance because the cohort was underpowered, but 6 of 7 poor outcomes were in older patients. This aligns with Level I data (Franceschi) favoring biceps tenotomy over repair in patients over 50. The practical decision framework: for older or Workers' Compensation patients, strongly consider biceps tenodesis or tenotomy rather than anatomic SLAP repair.