ARTHROSCOPIC SUTURE REPAIR OF SUPERIOR LABRAL DETACHMENT LESIONS OF THE SHOULDER

Twenty consecutive patients with superior labral anterior and posterio r lesions of the shoulder involving the biceps attachment to the labru m (Snyder types II and IV) were repaired arthroscopically and reviewed postoperatively to evaluate the efficacy of the technique in the mana gement of this recently described injury pattern. Follow-up time avera ged 21 months (range, 12 to 42). All patients were managed by an arthr oscopic repair technique that included debridement of the frayed labru m and abrasion of the superior glenoid neck, followed by the placement of multiple sutures into the torn labrum-biceps tendon complex using a Caspari suture punch. Patients were reexamined, and the results were quantitated with the shoulder evaluation form of the American Shoulde r and Elbow Surgeons and with the Rowe rating scale. On evaluation, al l patients obtained good or excellent results. This suture technique i s recommended in the management of unstable superior labral detachment lesions of the shoulder.