Editorial Commentary: Restoring SLAP Tears to the "Normal" State in Overhead Athletes With Relatively Abnormal Adaptations.

Abstract

Type 2 SLAP tears continue to be a challenge in the management of young, overhead athletes. We continue to debate the concern of overconstraint after a SLAP repair versus glenohumeral microinstability after biceps tenodesis, leading to treatment failure. Biomechanical studies show glenohumeral instability after a simulated biceps tenodesis and mixed concerns for overconstraint after SLAP repair in cadaveric specimens. However, does restoration to "normal" in a 68-year-old cadaveric specimen translate to the young throwing shoulder with adaptive changes? We need to continue to investigate these overhead athletes both in the laboratory and clinically in search of optimal outcomes and return to sport.