Type IX Superior Labrum Anterior and Posterior Lesion in a Professional Football Player: A Rare Pattern of Shoulder Instability in a Non-throwing Athlete

Anterior shoulder instability is the most frequent type of glenohumeral instability, especially among young athletes. Superior labral anterior-posterior (SLAP) injuries involve the superior glenoid labrum where the long head of the biceps tendon (LHBT) inserts. There is still some debate regarding the pathogenesis, clinical presentation, and treatment of these lesions. We report a clinical case of an 18-year-old male professional football player with a rare type IX SLAP lesion. Given the recurrence of instability after prior nonoperative management, surgical treatment was seen as the best option, and a pan-labral arthroscopic repair suture anchor fixation was performed. Three months after undergoing a personalized postoperative rehabilitation program, he was able to return to full sport with the same competitive level, and no recurrent instability or other symptoms were reported throughout the 18-month follow-up period.