A Comparative Analysis Between Conservative Treatment, Arthroscopic Repair, and Biceps Tenodesis in Superior Labral Anterior-Posterior (SLAP) Lesions

Background "Throwing shoulder" hinders athletes' shoulder functions, causing pain, weakness, and performance reduction due to anatomical, physiological, and biomechanical factors. Anatomical issues include superior labral anterior-posterior (SLAP) injuries, rotator cuff injuries, and glenohumeral instability. Methods This study compared arthroscopic labral repairs in patients under 40 years old with shoulder injuries between 2015 and 2017. Sixty eligible patients were divided into three groups: conservative treatment, arthroscopic repair, and tenodesis. Measures included pain, functional scores, and the range of motion pre-/post-operation. Results At the last follow-up, pain relief and functional improvement were most significant with tenodesis (97% pain relief, 95% functional improvement), followed by repair (85% pain relief, 70% functional improvement), and least in conservative treatment (45% pain relief, 40% functional improvement). While all treatments significantly reduced pain and improved function (p<0.001), tenodesis demonstrated the highest effectiveness, suggesting it as a potentially preferred method. Significant improvements in pain relief and function were observed across all methods; however, surgical options suggested improved outcomes. Conclusion Our study compares conservative treatment, arthroscopic labral repair, and biceps tenodesis (BT) for SLAP lesions, highlighting significant pain relief and functional improvement across all. Conservative treatment suits patients with milder symptoms, while arthroscopic repair addresses larger tears. As the effectiveness of arthroscopic treatment is not inferior to conservative one, BT excels in cases of substantial bicep involvement.