ROTATION OSTEOTOMY OF THE PROXIMAL HUMERUS TO STABILIZE THE SHOULDER - 5 YEARS EXPERIENCE

A reduced retroversion angle of the humeral head may predispose to rec urrent anterior shoulder dislocation and may also be a factor in persi stent instability after soft-tissue repair, We performed rotational os teotomy of the proximal humerus in 20 patients with recurrent anterior shoulder dislocations (10 traumatic, 10 non-traumatic) and a decrease d retroversion angle of the humeral head, The mean preoperative retrov ersion angle was 12 degrees, which was increased after surgery to a me an value of 32 degrees. All patients regained a normal range of should er motion and normal function within three months after surgery. At th e five-year review all shoulders were stable, pain-free and had no rad iological signs of osteoarthritis.