Anterior superior instability with rotator cuff tearing: SLAC lesion (Reprinted from Operative Techniques in Sports Medicine, July, 2000)

Anterosuperior instability of the shoulder may occur from a variety of path ologic lesions. We describe a specific entity, the SLAC (superior labrum, a nterior cuff) lesion that involves an association of anterior-superior labr al tear with a partial supraspinatus tear. We retrospectively isolated a gr oup of 40 patients with this lesion. The presenting complaints, physical ex amination findings, surgical findings, and results were isolated. Overhead activities were the most common etiology; load and shift instability testin g and whipple rotator cuff testing were the most common physical examinatio n findings. Surgical repair was successful in 37 of the 40 patients. The SL AC lesion is a definable clinical entity with predictable history, examinat ion, surgical pathology, and satisfactory results from surgery.