title: Arthrodesis as a salvage procedure for recurrent instability of the shoulder.
abstract: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of shoulder arthrodesis as a salvage procedure for recurrent shoulder instability. Eight patients with an average of seven prior stabilization attempts were reviewed retrospectively at a mean follow-up of 35 months (range, 24-83 months). The average time to bony union after arthrodesis was 3.5 months (range, 2.5-5 months). The patients reported significant overall subjective improvement as a group after fusion. None of the patients complained of instability postoperatively. All 8 stated that they would repeat the surgery again under similar preoperative circumstances. Despite limitations in function and residual pain, our results suggest that shoulder arthrodesis is a viable treatment option for patients with refractory shoulder instability.
authors.affiliation: Brookfield Orthopedic Associates, Brookfield, CT, USA.
authors.forename: J Albert
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Diaz
authors.forename: Steven B
authors.initials: SB
authors.lastname: Cohen
authors.forename: Russell F
authors.initials: RF
authors.lastname: Warren
authors.forename: Edward V
authors.initials: EV
authors.lastname: Craig
authors.forename: Answorth A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Allen
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001174:Arthrodesis / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007593:Joint Instability / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D010146:Pain / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery; D012008:Recurrence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016879:Salvage Therapy; D012785:Shoulder Joint / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery*; D016896:Treatment Outcome