Arthroscopic treatment of posterior shoulder instability: results in 33 patients.
BACKGROUND
Posterior shoulder instability is a relatively rare condition and a surgical challenge. Arthroscopic techniques have allowed for a potential improvement as well as diagnosis and management of this condition.


OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the outcomes of arthroscopic posterior shoulder stabilization and to evaluate preoperative and intraoperative variables as predictors of success.


METHODS
Case series; Level of evidence, 4.


METHODS
Thirty-three consecutive patients with a mean age of 25 years (range, 19-34 years) who underwent posterior arthroscopic shoulder stabilization with suture anchors (mean, 3 anchors) or suture capsulolabral plication (mean, 5.3 stitches) or both were reviewed at a mean follow-up of 39.1 months (range, 22-60 months). Shoulder outcomes rating scores were determined using the American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons Rating Scale, the Western Ontario Shoulder Instability Index, the Subjective Patient Shoulder Evaluation, and the Single Assessment Numeric Evaluation.


RESULTS
There were 7 failures: 4 for recurrent instability and 3 for symptoms of pain. Overall, outcomes scores demonstrated mean values of the American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons Rating Scale of 94.6, Subjective Patient Shoulder Evaluation of 20.0, Western Ontario Shoulder Instability Index of 389.4 (81.5% of normal), and Single Assessment Numeric Evaluation of 87.5. Patients with voluntary instability demonstrated worse outcomes (P = .025), and those with prior surgery of the shoulder also did worse (P = .02).


CONCLUSIONS
Arthroscopic treatment of posterior shoulder instability is an effective means to improve symptoms associated with recurrent posterior subluxation of the shoulder. It can provide predictable success in the setting of unidirectional, nonvoluntary posterior instability without prior surgery.
Provencher
Matthew T
MT
Division of Orthopaedic Shoulder & Sports Medicine, Naval Medical Center San Diego, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, San Diego, CA 92134-1112, USA. mtprovencher@nmcsd.med.navy.mil
Bell
S Josh
SJ
Menzel
Kyle A
KA
Mologne
Timothy S
TS
D000328:Adult; D001175:Arthrography; D001182:Arthroscopy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007593:Joint Instability / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D012785:Shoulder Joint / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D016896:Treatment Outcome