Hi, really sorry to hear about your shoulder injury. SLAP tear means "superior labral tear from anterior to posterior". Labrum is the fibrocartilaginous rim of soft tissue attached around the margin of the shoulder joint (the glenoid cavity). The biceps tendon is also anchored in the superior labrum as well. So the symptoms a SLAP tear are usually pain when the biceps are required, or overhead throwing movement. The pain is especially worse at night, and the patient typically cannot sleep on the affected shoulder.
To diagnose shoulder injuries, I'd recommend a MRI scan, it has a higher resolution and higher sensitivity as compared to ultra-sound scans, we can also assess whether there are any concomitant injuries to the muscles (rotator cuff) and the cartilage in the joint. X rays won't be very helpful and you will end up wasting your money.
Depending on the severity of the tear and the symptoms, treatment can be divided into 2 types:
1. Conservative treatment - we will provide anti-inflammatory medication and physiotherapy, however, it is usually not very effective in the treatment of established SLAP tears.
2. Surgical treatment - we will repair the SLAP tears using special minimally invasive techniques (suture anchors) via 3 small key-hole incisions in the shoulder region. This keyhole surgery will pose the least surgical trauma and risk to the patient and allow the patient to rehabilitate faster with lesser pain.
The wound will take about 2 weeks to heal and then the patient can undergo rehabilitation to regain the movement and the strength of the shoulder. The pain would have been much improved as well and the patients can return to pretty normal function and their daily routine in about 6 weeks to 3 months.
Hope I clear some doubts for you.
Cheers,
Dr. Henry Chan
