​Potential complications of SLAP repair

1. Infection - smokers have 4 times more infections that non-smokers. The infection rate for shoulder arthroscopy is likely to be 0.3% or 3 per thousand procedures. Unfortunately if this occurs, further surgery is required and the repair will need to be re-done once the infection is controlled.
2. Re-tear occurs in  10 - 20%, but is usually associated with a fall
3. Pain after surgery - pain is a multi-factorial experience, and the body remembers pain for a long time after an injury has settled.
Most patients take pain relief for 1-2 weeks after surgery, but some patients can require pain relief for months.
4. Stiffness / frozen shoulder - there is always some stiffness after a SLAP repair, which can take 12 months to settle - particularly into external rotation.
5. Biceps tendinitis - some patients have pain associated with their biceps tendon as it passes over the front of the shoulder, after surgery. This can settle with time, but some patients request steroid injections to help them. Simple anti-inflammatories may be sufficient.