title: Arthroscopic treatment of multidirectional glenohumeral instability in young overhead athletes.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This prospective case series evaluates the outcome, and the return to sports of young overhead athletes with a persistent, symptomatic multidirectional instability (MDI) with hyperlaxity type Gerber B5 treated with an arthroscopic anteroposteroinferior capsular plication and rotator interval closure.
  
  
  METHODS
  9 young overhead athletes (10 shoulders) with the rare diagnosis of MDI (Gerber B5) and an indication for operative treatment, after a failed physiotherapy program were physically examined 3, 6 and 12 months postoperatively by a physical examination, and got a final phone interview after median 39 months.
  
  
  RESULTS
  At the final follow-up all patients were satisfied; Rowe Score showed 7 "excellent" and "good" results; Constant Score was "excellent" and "good" in 6, and "fair" in 1 patient. 7/9 returned to their previous sports, 3/9 at a reduced level.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Symptomatic MDI requires an individual indication for surgical treatment after a primary conservative treatment. The described arthroscopic technique stabilizes glenohumeral joint. A return to overhead sports is possible but often at a reduced level; returning to high-performance sports cannot be recommended because of the high risk of reinstability.
authors.affiliation: Department of Trauma and Reconstructive Surgery, Friederikenstift Hospital Hannover, Humboldtstrasse 5, D-30169 Hannover, Germany.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Voigt
authors.forename: A P
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Schulz
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Lill