Repair of type-2 SLAP lesions using Corkscrew anchors - A preliminary report of the clinical results

The aim of the study was to perform a clinical assessment of patients who had undergone arthroscopic repair of a type-2 SLAP lesion using one double-looped Corkscrew anchor. Fifteen consecutive patients who agreed to fill in a pre- and post-operative questionnaire were included in the study. The aetiology was traumatic in 10/15 patients and non-traumatic in 5/15. At the index operation four patients underwent a concomitant acromioplasty, while four patients underwent supplementary anterior labrum fixation using suture anchors. Thirteen/15 (87%) of the patients were physically re-examined by independent observers after a follow-up period of 25 months (11-32). The questionnaire involved a patient-administered assessment of ten common activities of daily living. At follow-up, the Rowe score was 84 points (51-98) and the Constant score was 83 points (35-100). The external rotation in abduction was 85degrees (60-110) on the operated side and 90degrees (80-110) on the non-operated side (p<0.05). The isometric strength in abduction was 8.3 kg (0.8-14.4) on the operated side and 8.9 kg (2.7-15.5) on the non-operated side (p=0.006). Significant improvements (p<0.05) compared with the pre-operative assessments were found in 2/10 activities of daily living. Another 4/10 activities seemed to improve but did not reach statistical significance (p<0.08). Eleven of 15 patients returned to their pre-injury activity level. In conclusion, the majority of patients returned to their pre-injury activity level and the subjective patient-administered evaluations appeared to improve after arthroscopic repair of type-2 SLAP lesions using one double-looped Corkscrew anchor. We feel encouraged to continue using this technique.