Superior labral anterior posterior lesions of the shoulder: Current diagnostic and therapeutic standards

Table 1 Superior labral anterior posterior classification, adapted from ref. [77]

SLAP type	Location (o'clock)	Description	Comments
Snyder et al[1]
I	11-1	Fraying with intact biceps tendon	More significant in young people with repetitive overhead motion or patients with degenerative change
II	11-1	Tear of BLC and biceps tendon stripping	Most common SLAP type, associated with repetitive overhead motion
III	11-1	Bucket-handle tear of superior labrum with biceps tendon intact	Associated with fall on outstretched hand
IV	11-1	Bucket-handle tear of superior labrum extension to biceps tendon	Associated with fall on outstretched hand
Morgan et al[32]
IIA	11-3	Tear of BLC with more anterior extension
IIB	9-11	Tear of BLC with more posterior extension	Associated infraspinatus tendon tear may be present
IIC	9-3	Tear of BLC with anterior and posterior extension	Associated infraspinatus tendon tear may be present
Maffet et al[31]
V	11-5	Bankart lesion in continuity with type II SLAP tear	Can result from anterior shoulder dislocation
VI	11-1	Anterior or posterior flap tear of the superior labrum with biceps tendon stripping	Probably represents a bucket-handle tear (SLAP III/IV) with tear of the handle
VII	11-3	Tear extends into MGHL	Can result from acute trauma with anterior dislocation
Powell et al[78]
VIII	7-1	Superior labral tear with posteroinferior labral tear	Associated with posterior shoulder dislocation
IX	7-5	Superior labral tear with extensive anterior and posterior extension	Global labral abnormality, probably secondary to trauma
X	11-1	Superior labral tear with extension to the rotator interval	Involving the rotator interval structures including SGHL, long head biceps tendon and CHL

BLC: Bicipito-labral complex; MGHL: Middle glenohumeral ligament; SGHL: Superior glenohumeral ligament; CHL: Coraco-humeral ligament; SLAP: Superior labral anterior posterior.