SLAP
Medical abbreviation · Musculoskeletal & Rheumatology
| Stands for | Superior labrum anterior to posterior (tear) |
|---|---|
| Categories | Medical |
SLAP stands for Superior labrum anterior to posterior (tear), a musculoskeletal & rheumatology abbreviation.
Tear of the top of the shoulder's labrum, the cartilage rim of the socket, where the biceps tendon attaches. It occurs in overhead athletes, weightlifters and after falls, causing deep shoulder pain, clicking and weakness with overhead activity.
Example: Overhead volleyball player with type II SLAP tear on MR arthrogram; trial of rehab first.
Usage notes
The classification was described by Stephen Snyder in 1990. Treatment ranges from physical therapy to arthroscopic repair, and in patients over about 35 biceps tenodesis is often preferred. Labral fraying is common in asymptomatic throwers, so imaging findings must match symptoms. Pronounced "slap".
Related abbreviations
More musculoskeletal & rheumatology abbreviations
- PsA – Psoriatic arthritis
- RA – Rheumatoid arthritis
- RCT – Rotator cuff tear
- RICE – Rest, ice, compression and elevation
- RSA – Reverse shoulder arthroplasty
- SCFE – Slipped capital femoral epiphysis
- SLE – Systemic lupus erythematosus
- SS – Sjögren's syndrome
- SSc – Systemic sclerosis
- THA – Total hip arthroplasty
- THR – Total hip replacement
- TJA – Total joint arthroplasty
See all 71 musculoskeletal & rheumatology abbreviations →
This entry is for general education and is not medical advice. Abbreviation use varies between institutions; always confirm in context.