ANTERIOR SHOULDER INSTABILITY - CURRENT REVIEW

During the past several decades, the treatment of anterior shoulder in stability has evolved substantially, Treatment initially was based on conservative management with rehabilitation protocols for shoulder gir dle strengthening, Functionally disabling instability and recurrent di slocation precluded the acceptance of conservative management as the d efinitive treatment for all patients, Attention then was turned to ope n repair strategies, Despite generally positive results, a significant number of complications became evident, With time, however, technique s improved and surgical complications were lessened, As shoulder arthr oscopy was more widely practiced, the surgical reconstruction of insta bility became significantly less invasive, A high learning curve has b een associated with the new arthroscopic techniques, and higher redisl ocation rates than those of open procedures have limited their accepta nce by many orthopaedic surgeons, This review article examines the ana tomy and pathology of anterior shoulder dislocations, and critically r eviews the actual laboratory and clinical data supporting use of these various treatment options, Only through careful examination of well-c ontrolled scientific studies can clinicians devise their own treatment protocol for symptomatic anterior instability of the shoulder.